While brandishing a poll showing that three-quarters of Quebecers are opposed to a $30,000 increase in the salaries of MPs, Québec solidaire (QS) affirms that the elected members of its caucus will be free to accept or not this increase to which they oppose.
The QS co-spokesperson, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, thus qualified the position of his party, which had declared that its deputies would refuse the increase and give it back to organizations.
During a press briefing on Tuesday, Mr. Nadeau-Dubois affirmed that this course of action will be adopted on a voluntary basis.
“There will be no party line in Quebec solidaire on people’s personal finances,” he said at a press briefing on Tuesday. We all have different situations, and each person will make their own decision. »
At least four will refuse the raise
It has not been known whether the donations made by QS MPs will be made public, should the bill under consideration proposing the $30,000 raise pass. Mr. Nadeau-Dubois has however personally undertaken to refuse the increase and to make public the amounts that he will redistribute.
“I’m going to be 100% transparent,” he said. I have nothing to hide. »
The parliamentary wing of QS confirmed on Tuesday that MPs Manon Massé, Sol Zanetti, and Ruba Ghazal also confirmed that they would give back the entire bonus. The QS caucus has 12 MPs.
QS maintains its refusal to support the bill introduced by the government, which proposes this increase which would increase the base salary from $101,561 to $131,766 for deputies. According to the political formation, by accepting it, the elected officials would place themselves in a situation of conflict of interest since they would vote themselves an increase in their remuneration.
“We must put an end to this conflict of interest, set up a committee that is independent and that is above all decision-making to settle these questions,” said Mr. Nadeau-Dubois.
QS released a poll on Tuesday showing that 74% of respondents disagreed with the hike.
“What I see today is that the Liberals and the CAQ see the poll, see how the population does not follow them, he said. And there, they react, they counter-attack, they attack us. »
More details will follow.