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QUEBEC With denials flying that the intention is to drive Pierre Karl Pladeau out of politics, the National Assembly Thursday adopted a motion saying it wants to ban politicians from owning media giants.

But the turmoil caused by the debate continued unabated particularly inside the Parti Qubcois where the knives are now out for Rosemont MNA Jean-Franois Lise for opening the can of worms, which is Pladeaus ownership of the giant Quebecor media empire.

Luckily, caucus discussions are confidential, was all Lise would say late Thursday when asked about news he had been read the riot act by fellow pquistes and told to stifle his attacks on his potential leadership rival.

His distancing himself from the PQs defunct charter of values in a soon-to-be-released book was the last straw for pquistes.

But the Pladeau saga got stranger moments later when Quebec Health Minister Gatan Barrette, a man not known for mincing his words, compared Pladeau to former Italian president Silvio Berlusconi, another politician with media holdings who has been convicted of fraud.

I cannot compare the behaviour of M. Pladeau to the behaviour of Mr. Berlusconi, Barrette told reporters. There is no possible comparison. But it remains that on the level of the principle of media influence, well, yes, its comparable.

The Pladeau saga got stranger when Quebec Health Minister Gatan Barrette compared PKP to former Italian president Silvio Berlusconi, another politician with media holdings. Above, Barrette tables a document Thursday, Oct. 9, 2014, at the legislature in Quebec City.

Furious, Pladeau took to his personal Facebook demanding an apology from Barrette. There was no immediate answer from Barrette.

But the odd behaviour capped a roller-coaster week focused on Pladeaus ownership of Quebecor and his desire unconfirmed to lead the PQ.

The rest is here:
Liberals, CAQ team up to ban MNA control over media companies