After criticizing Québec Solidaire’s decision to buy advertising on Facebook, new co-spokesperson Émilise Lessard-Therrien falls into line and supports the party’s position.
• Read also: Émilise Lessard-Therrien asks Québec solidaire to no longer buy ads on Facebook
• Read also: Media crisis: QS continues to buy advertising on Facebook
“It’s no secret this decision is not my favorite, and I’ve said that publicly. However, I understand why it was taken democratically within the party and I support it,” she said on Wednesday, in a written declaration sent to our Parliamentary Office by the political party.
Manon Massé’s successor as female representative of solidarity was not available for an interview.
“I am very happy from now on to be part of the political discussions of our organization to take it further. Above all, I am very proud that Québec solidaire is the only party with a structuring proposal for our media,” she adds in the missive.
However, during her campaign as spokesperson, Émilise Lessard-Therrien opposed this practice.
She had asked QS to stop paying for advertising placements on Facebook, a way of protesting against Meta, which prevents the publication of news on its site. “This would be my wish, to the extent that it is an important act of protest against this multinational,” she then pleaded.
We will continue, said GND
Her male counterpart, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, announced on Wednesday that the arrival of Émilise Lessard-Therrien would not change the party’s decision. “There is nothing new in this matter,” he said, in a brief exchange with our Parliamentary Office. The decision was made several months ago and we will continue in this direction.”
The day before, his colleague from Hochelaga-Maisonneuve had underlined the extent to which this practice is essential for QS, which has spent more than $4,000 on advertising placements on Facebook since the Jean-Talon by-election on October 2.
“It’s certain that we have no choice, it’s central,” he argued. People who have just been made redundant at TVA are a structuring problem, we need to find a structuring solution.”