Coalition avenir Quebec has repaid illegal contributions received by their predecessors, the Action démocratique du Quebec, in maneuvers revealed by the Charbonneau Commission.
The Chief Electoral Officer of Quebec confirmed Thursday that the CAQ repaid $35,450 which were reclaimed for the period between 2006 and 2011.
The work of the Charbonneau Commission notably confirmed that several municipal and provincial political parties received illegal contributions from engineering firms and companies looking to score public contracts. The ADQ — now CAQ — was no exception.
The CAQ has maintained since March 2013 that it would pay any amount claimed by the Chief Electoral Officer in relation to these illegal contributions, previously paid to the ADQ.
Last June, the National Assembly adopted a law that allows the Chief Electoral Officer to ask political parties for repayment of illegal contributions beyond the normal limitation of five years.
By July, the CEO forwarded notices demanding approximately $500,000 from the Liberal party of Quebec and $250,000 from the Parti Québécois for illegal contributions to the organizations between 2006 and 2011.
The CAQ’s bill of $35,450 has not been disputed.
President of the CAQ, Stéphane Le Bouyonnec, said Thursday that his party has “always acted with transparency. We said from the beginning of the inquiry (of the CEO) that we would refund the money collected by the ADQ.”
