Listen to this article
Estimated 2 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
The Parti Québécois is urging the anti-corruption police to release the results of its investigation into alleged Liberal Party fundraising irregularities before the October general election.
PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon says releasing that information would help maintain the public’s trust in the anti-corruption police force, known as UPAC.
In November, Le Journal de Montréal published alleged text messages by unnamed people suggesting some Quebec Liberal Party members who had voted for Pablo Rodriguez in the 2025 leadership race could have received cash rewards.
That report sparked a major crisis in the Liberal Party and ultimately led to Rodriguez resigning last December and the anti-corruption police investigating the party’s fundraising.
However, La Presse reported today that anti-corruption police doubt the authenticity of the text messages, which have not been independently verified by The Canadian Press.
Mathieu Galarneau, a spokesperson for UPAC, did not confirm La Presse’s reporting but said it’s the force’s priority to complete its investigation into the Liberal leadership race as soon as possible.
In a statement, Dany Doucet, the editor-in-chief of Le Journal de Montréal defended his paper’s reporting.
“We reiterate that the text messages come from reliable sources and that our journalistic methods are irreproachable,” he said.
“The revelations that have emerged following our investigation and reporting further confirm the existence of cash payments as part of former leader Pablo Rodriguez’s fundraising campaign, as the text messages had indicated.”
WATCH | The latest on the UPAC investigation into Liberal scandal:
Anti-corruption police can’t authenticate texts that led to PLQ leader’s resignation: La Presse
Quebec’s anti-corruption police say they are unable to verify text messages that allege members of the province’s Liberal Party received money in exchange for voting for Pablo Rodriguez in a leadership race, according to a report in La Presse. The messages were the basis of a scandal that led to Rodriquez’s resignation as party leader in December.
Correction: a previous version of this video was taken down due to technical issues.