Jean-françois Roberge is facing an ethics probe after the commissioner opened an inquiry tied to the CAQ leadership race. The case centers on whether the Immigration minister shared ministry analysis with candidates Bernard Drainville and Christine Fréchette. The commissioner acted after requests from Liberal MNA Marc Tanguay and Québec solidaire MNA Étienne Grandmont.
Ethics commissioner opens inquiry
Me Ariane Mignolet, commissioner for ethics and deontology at the National Assembly, said the inquiry will determine whether Jean-françois Roberge breached the code of ethics. released Tuesday, she said the complaints raised a possible conflict-of-interest issue under article 17 of the code.
The article says a member of the Assembly cannot use or communicate information obtained through the exercise of office, and not generally available to the public, to favor personal interests or those of another person. The issue stems from claims that Jean-françois Roberge communicated the results of an analysis he had asked his officials to prepare on the effect of the candidates’ promises about a right of return clause for former PEQ applicants.
That analysis became politically sensitive because it touched the future of the Programme de l’expérience québécoise and the broader debate over immigration rules. The inquiry will now assess whether the information was shared in a way that crossed the line set by the code.
What the candidates and critics are saying
Jean-françois Roberge responded briefly on Tuesday. “I take note of the inquiry launched by the commissioner. I will cooperate fully with her work, ” he said.
Marc Tanguay, Liberal parliamentary leader, called the move an “important decision” by the commissioner and pointed to what he described as the possible sharing of privileged information with CAQ leadership candidates. Étienne Grandmont said he was relieved that the commissioner had taken up the matter, adding that using public institutions to test immigration proposals for leadership politics was unacceptable.
Bernard Drainville had previously disclosed numbers he said were provided by Jean-françois Roberge, including a figure of 18, 000 immigrants who could get a fast track to permanent residence under one proposal. Christine Fréchette’s approach, meanwhile, was said to open the door to 125, 000 new arrivals under her formula, while still respecting the annual permanent immigration target of 45, 000.
How the dispute grew inside the leadership race
The controversy developed as candidates argued over how to handle people affected by the end of the PEQ. Drainville’s proposal was described as more restrictive, while Fréchette said she wanted to bring the PEQ back for two years and grant a right of return clause to those in Québec at the time of its closure.
Jean-françois Roberge had asked his ministry to assess different transition scenarios for the next premier, but the results were later shared with the two candidates before the party’s next leader was to be chosen Sunday. That detail placed Jean-françois Roberge at the center of a fight over both ethics and political advantage.
For now, the inquiry leaves the minister under scrutiny as the CAQ leadership race moves forward. The commissioner’s findings will determine whether Jean-françois Roberge crossed the line, and the outcome could shape the next stage of the debate inside the party.
