Liberals help pass CAQ motion seen as targeting Peladeau

CTV Montreal Published Thursday, October 9, 2014 10:16AM EDT Last Updated Thursday, October 9, 2014 6:30PM EDT

The governing Quebec Liberals voted today in favour of an opposition CAQ motion that could prevent a sitting MNA from owning majority shares in a media outlet.

The motion was passed Thursday morning in the National Assembly by 84 votes to 22 votes against. The three Quebec Solidaire MNAs voted in favour of the motion, but Parti Quebecois MNAs - including Jean-Francois Lisee - voted against.

Interim PQ leader Stephane Bedard said that his party would oppose all changes to the code of ethics inspired by the current debate involving media baron and likely leadership hopeful Pierre Karl Peladeau.

Prior to the vote Premier Philippe Couillard suggested that the Liberals were supporting the bill as a means to eventually creating a parliamentary commission to study ethics rules.

Well support this motion to show that we are concerned about this issue," he told a scrum of reporters in Quebec City Thursday morning.

Its not through the National Assembly or a bill that this will be settled but rather through a higher discussion on the issue, said Couillard. The solution lies with the recommendations of a parliamentary committee to discuss the issue, he said.

An ethics bill, changing rules in the National Assembly, is a complicated affair. Usually wed like to do this through unanimity, a consensus but with the debate we have seen it doesnt seem likely.

PKP slams bill

The proposed legislation seems targeted at likely Parti Quebecois leadership candidate and media baron Pierre Karl Peladeau, who has condemned the initiative.

Original post:
Liberals help pass CAQ motion seen as targeting Peladeau

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