(Quebec) When announcing two new candidates on Tuesday, Prime Minister François Legault came to the defense of his MP Marie-Ève Proulx, targeted by a new complaint of psychological harassment. He said he believed the version of his candidate in Côte-du-Sud wanting “that there was no problem” with the complainant.
Updated at 0:00
For her part, after making Québec solidaire (QS) languish, the founder of Ma place au travail, Myriam Lapointe-Gagnon, confirmed that she will wear the colors of the left-wing party in Rivière-du-Loup–Témiscouata in the elections. She wants to take her fight for better access to childcare services to the National Assembly.
The Journal of Montreal revealed that Marie-Ève Proulx, former Minister of Regional Economic Development, must respond to a new psychological harassment complaint for events that allegedly occurred after her demotion in 2021. The complainant Laetitia Canova, a former political attaché to the MNA , applied to the Administrative Labor Tribunal (TAT). She would have been fired on July 26, 2021, the date of the “last manifestation of harassment”. The complainant would also have filed a complaint in connection with her dismissal.
“First, psychological harassment is zero tolerance. Let’s be clear. When I speak with Marie-Ève Proulx, she tells me that this person is not right to file a complaint. The file is before the court, it is the word of one against the other, ”replied François Legault on the sidelines of the announcement of his candidate in Laval-des-Rapides, Céline Haytayan.
PHOTO MORGANE SHOCK, THE PRESS
Céline Haytayan will be the CAQ candidate in Laval-des-Rapides.
Mme Haytayan has been head of international corporate affairs at multinational Ubisoft since 2018. This is a Liberal Party-held constituency at the moment.
PHOTO MARTIN TREMBLAY, THE PRESS
François Legault, Premier of Quebec
I trust Marie-Ève Proulx that there was no problem with that person. Now we will wait for the court’s decision.
François Legault, Premier of Quebec
Mr. Legault also revealed that the complainant would also have filed a complaint with the National Assembly, “and [que] his complaint had not been upheld”.
Mme Proulx lost his position as minister last year following other allegations of psychological harassment. A former employee of the MP’s constituency office had filed two complaints against her with the TAT. The Minister did not have to appear: an agreement was reached between the parties. In addition, at least a dozen people in his cabinet have left or been fired since the start of his term.
The new complaint would concern facts that occurred after his resignation as minister, when François Legault had undertaken to “closely monitor the situation”.
For liberal leader Dominique Anglade, François Legault has no choice but to show the door to his candidate. “To me, zero tolerance is not just words,” she said. It is high time for him to act. She had expelled MNA Marie Montpetit from the Liberal caucus in November, following allegations of psychological harassment and intimidation.
François Legault also announced on Tuesday the candidacy of Christine Fréchette to succeed Danielle McCann in Sanguinet, in Montérégie.
PHOTO MARTIN TREMBLAY, THE PRESS
Christine Fréchette will be the CAQ’s color bearer in the riding of Sanguinet, in Montérégie.
The former director general of the East Montreal Chamber of Commerce had been deputy chief of staff to Minister Jean-François Lisée in the Marois government. She had left her post because she could not endorse the Charter of Values sponsored by Bernard Drainville, now a CAQ candidate.
This Wednesday, François Legault will confirm the candidacy of the former political analyst at Radio-Canada Martine Biron in Chutes-de-la-Chaudière.
A place for every child
If Myriam Lapointe-Gagnon can now go into politics, under the banner of QS, it is because she has finally found a place in daycare for her 19-month-old son, she explains. A non-subsidized place, at $40 per day instead of $8.70. “And it is not true that with the tax credit, we are all equal in front of the costs”, estimates the doctoral student in psychology.
The Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ) had undertaken to reduce “considerably” the waiting list for obtaining a place. However, there are nearly 52,000 children on this list, 10,000 more than in 2018. There are fewer places in the network today than four years ago. The government has launched an operation to add 37,000 places by 2025.
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Myriam Lapointe-Gagnon, founder of Ma place au travail
When I look at the government’s balance sheet, we are really far off the mark. He was not proactive enough. And also, access to a daycare space has not been made a right.
Myriam Lapointe-Gagnon, founder of Ma place au travail
His “workhorse” will be the creation of temporary financial aid for parents who do not have a place for their child, a claim for My place at work. She had also been courted by the Liberal Party and the Parti Québécois.
The current member for Rivière-du-Loup–Témiscouata, caquiste Denis Tardif, is not seeking a second term. The CAQ relies on the press secretary of the Minister of Tourism Caroline Proulx, Amélie Dionne.