Speaker shields Liberals amid Quebec vote-buying scandal rocking provincial party
The Liberal government stonewalled Conservative efforts in the House of Commons on Thursday to get answers about explosive vote-buying allegations tied to the Quebec Liberal Party.
The Liberal government stonewalled Conservative efforts in the House of Commons on Thursday to get answers about explosive vote-buying allegations tied to the Quebec Liberal Party, fueling accusations that the ruling party is actively covering up a scandal involving one of its own MPs.
The move followed a La Presse report alleging that Liberal MP Fayçal El-Khoury (Laval–Les Îles) played a key organizing role in former federal heritage minister Pablo Rodriguez’s provincial leadership campaign.
That race is now facing allegations that campaign organizers paid $100 for votes, claims Rodriguez has denied.
During Question Period, Conservative MP Pierre Paul-Hus attempted to ask whether any Liberal caucus member had breached federal or provincial law. Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia immediately intervened, ruling the question out of order.
“In my view the question did not concern federal government policies or programs, nor did it concern the federal cabinet,” Scarpaleggia said, prompting a loud backlash from opposition benches.
Paul-Hus insisted his question pertained directly to sitting federal MPs and should therefore be allowed. “My question is about a Member who is here, across the way,” he argued, but the Speaker held firm, stating the issue was “a matter of provincial legislation.”
Bloc Québécois MP Yves Perron countered that MPs have the right to ask questions about significant public matters in the news, calling the ruling overly restrictive.
Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon defended his colleagues, saying he had “seen no evidence” to support allegations of wrongdoing involving Rodriguez or El-Khoury. “I know Mr. Rodriguez and I don’t doubt his integrity,” he told reporters. “I don’t doubt Mr. El-Khoury’s integrity either.”
The controversy stems from Le Journal de Montréal’s November 19 report alleging Rodriguez’s provincial leadership campaign distributed $100 payments in exchange for votes, allegations he has rejected, saying, “Nobody has anything to hide.”
In a written response to a True North inquiry, Paul-Hus said: “As reported by La Presse, a federal Liberal MP may be linked to a leadership campaign in the Québec Liberal Party leadership race that has come into question over possible fundraising irregularities. This matter concerns a Member of Parliament and Quebecers deserve answers from the Liberal government. Québec’s federal Conservative team will keep asking questions to get to the bottom of this issue.”
Opposition parties say Thursday’s ruling sets a troubling precedent, preventing MPs from questioning the government about matters involving federal parliamentarians even when allegations relate to integrity and public trust.
The Speaker maintained that only matters directly tied to federal government operations may be raised during Question Period. Conservatives say they plan to continue pressing the issue.