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Vincent Marissal has withdrawn his candidacy for the Parti Qu\u00e9b\u00e9cois in the riding of Taschereau following allegations of an ethics breach, Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon announced Wednesday.<\/p>\n
This news comes just two days after Marissal, who has been sitting as an Independent since leaving Qu\u00e9bec Solidaire, was named the candidate for a riding that previously supported the PQ for decades.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs much as I believe we must be flexible and welcoming when it comes to bringing together people whose thinking has evolved, I believe that when it comes to ethical questions or the use of public funds \u2014 even for alleged wrongdoings or issues \u2014 we must take a strict zero-tolerance approach,\u201d St-Pierre Plamondon wrote on social media Wednesday.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He said allegations surfaced that Marissal used an online home-exchange platform to swap his Quebec City apartment \u2014 which is funded by a National Assembly housing allowance \u2014 for free accommodation abroad. <\/p>\n
St-Pierre Plamondon noted that while no money changed hands, the arrangement still provided Marissal with a valuable financial benefit derived from taxpayer funds.<\/p>\n
St-Pierre Plamondon said the situation fails to meet the party’s code of ethics, which strictly forbids deriving personal benefit from National Assembly allowances.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
“In these circumstances, even though I have a great deal of respect for Vincent Marissal, I must apply the principles that guide the Parti Qu\u00e9b\u00e9cois without exception,” St-Pierre Plamondon said, adding the party will announce a replacement candidate in Taschereau on Thursday. <\/p>\n