(Quebec) Éric Duhaime’s Conservative Party faces 52 charges for potentially violating electoral law during the October 2022 general election.
In total, the Director General of Elections (DGE) served 78 charges on nine political parties for breaches relating to their electoral posters.
He claims to have received more than 300 complaints regarding the location of certain electoral signs or the way in which they were installed, compared to around fifty in 2018.
According to the DGE, the evidence collected demonstrates that “numerous posters were installed in such a way as to obstruct automobile or pedestrian traffic,” compromising public safety.
Furthermore, “certain posters were installed on bridges, on trees, on viaducts and on electricity pylons”, which constitutes infringements of the provisions of the electoral law, he indicated Thursday in a press release.
The DGE claims to have intervened with the political parties concerned to ask them to comply with the rules. This is the first time he has prosecuted election poster violations.
The institution “hopes that this decision will have a deterrent effect and that it will encourage political parties to respect the rules during the next provincial elections.”
The minimum fine provided for by electoral law is $500 per infraction.
Of all the parties, it is the Conservative Party of Quebec (PCQ) which has committed the most violations; he faces 52 charges.
François Legault’s Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) faces seven charges, Québec Solidaire (QS), six, the Parti Québécois (PQ), four, the Green Party of Quebec (PVQ), three, and the Liberal Party of Quebec (PLQ), two.
The Montreal Bloc of Balarama Holness and Party 51 could also be sanctioned.
When the DGE serves a finding on a political party, the latter has 30 days to plead guilty or not guilty to the alleged offense. If he pleads guilty, he must pay the fine set by the DGE.
If he does not submit a plea, if he pleads not guilty or if he contests the fine requested, the file is transferred to the Court of Quebec so that a trial is held and the court establishes the fine, the if necessary, explains the DGE.