Investigation into a CAQ financing cocktail: Sylvain Lévesque blamed by the Ethics Commissioner

CAQ MP Sylvain Lévesque receives a reprimand from the Ethics Commissioner because he tried to deceive her during an investigation into a CAQ financing cocktail in his riding.

The member for Chauveau announced that he was resigning from his position as second vice-president of the National Assembly on Wednesday, following the tabling of Commissioner Ariane Mignolet’s report.

The MP could also be excluded from the CAQ caucus. The question will be raised at the meeting of the party’s deputies on Wednesday evening, confirmed Prime Minister François Legault.

Last January, a complaint was filed by solidarity deputy Vincent Marissal.

He accused a staff member of Chauveau’s constituency office of having promoted, in the exercise of her duties, the partisan fundraising activities of the Coalition Avenir Québec.

She suggested to a citizen who was asking for assistance to pay $100 to participate in a CAQ fundraising activity, in order to be able to meet Finance Minister Eric Girard. The commissioner does not blame the MP for this gesture.

Deceive the commissioner

On the other hand, she concludes that Sylvain Lévesque committed a breach of the code by deceiving or attempting to deceive and obstruct the commissioner in the exercise of her duties.

The investigation shows that the MP lied to the commissioner by wanting to cover up his inaction with the citizen who called on him. Contrary to what he had stated, he had never given an employee of Minister Girard a letter written by this citizen in 2023.

“The deputy admitted to having voluntarily communicated inaccurate information during the investigation.”

The evidence collected shows that he used a personal email address to transmit months later, during an investigation in 2024, the text written by this citizen to the Girard cabinet and then deleted his email “to avoid leaving a trace from the moment of its transmission,” points out the commissioner.

To defend himself, he explained that he feared embarrassing the minister. “The MP says he proceeded “out of panic”, to “protect himself” and to prevent the media hype from increasing further,” notes the commissioner.

“In a conscious and assumed manner, he chose not to communicate the exact information concerning the circumstances”, however decides M^me Mignolet, who recommends sanctions and a reprimand from the National Assembly. She does not believe the MP should resign.

On Facebook, the MP wanted to apologize. “I must admit that I was not perfect during the investigative process that led to this report. Concerning the failings attributed to me, I admit having reacted very badly and having transmitted inaccurate information,” he wrote.

Resignation requested

Conservative leader Éric Duhaine “hopes” for his part that MP Lévesque will have “the decency to resign” for the citizens of Chauveau. “Lies have limits,” he said, adding that he would like to run in the constituency in a possible by-election.

The author of the complaint, Vincent Marrisal, is satisfied with the work of the commissioner. He recalls that at the time, the Prime Minister had accused him of throwing “mush.”

He maintains that the actions taken by MP Lévesque “are serious”, but that he does not wish to persist.

Liberal Monsef Derraji “strongly hopes that all elected officials rise to the occasion by applying these essential recommendations to preserve public confidence.”