New measures by the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) restrict political employees from accessing citizens’ political affiliations when they seek assistance from deputies. This change follows recommendations from the ethics commissioner after concerns about the previous use of the “Coaliste” platform for political purposes. Constituency staff now only have access to an “Assnat” tab, while deputies can still access certain information. Additionally, the ethics commissioner highlighted the need to separate partisan activities from deputies’ responsibilities.
New Restrictions on Political Access for CAQ Employees
The Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) has implemented new measures to ensure political employees cannot access the political affiliations of citizens seeking assistance from deputies. This decision aligns with the ethics commissioner’s recommendations, as highlighted by Me Ariane Mignolet, who discovered that constituency staff previously had access to voter scoring through the “Coaliste” platform, which was primarily used for the party’s political endeavors.
Changes to Access and Accountability
Citizens were previously categorized as “Supporter,” “Opponent,” or “Not scored,” but the CAQ’s general director, Brigitte Legault, insists that no individual was treated differently based on their political leanings. “No one in a constituency office has ever consulted a score to determine whether they were providing a service,” she stated in a recent interview. Mme Legault firmly maintains that the ethics commissioner’s concerns lack direct evidence.
However, former CAQ employees shared with the Journal last November that they had used the Coaliste platform to identify party supporters. “For a community organization applying for funding, we looked at the political affiliation of the leaders,” recalled one ex-employee from a Quebec constituency. Additionally, it was reported that ministerial office employees assessed the political connections of individuals they interacted with, a claim that Mme Legault denied.
Implementation of the “Assnat” Tab
As of December, constituency staff now only have access to an “Assnat” tab, removing the ability to view the citizen scoring. This platform will still be utilized for other essential services, such as ordering promotional materials. Deputies, however, retain access to certain information through the “CAQ” tab, as Brigitte Legault highlights the distinction: “A deputy is different. The commissioner recognizes that a deputy’s life is partisan.” This means that elected officials may engage in party-related tasks, like fundraising, while in their constituency offices.
Furthermore, the ethics commissioner raised concerns regarding the use of the Coaliste in relation to a fundraising cocktail hosted by deputy Sylvain Lévesque. She noted that this situation blurred the lines between partisan activities and the responsibilities of a deputy, urging the CAQ to address this issue. Ultimately, the party has been cleared of several allegations regarding trading access to ministers at fundraising events, prompting discussions about resuming popular funding, which had been halted by François Legault in February 2024. Moving forward, ministers would be excluded from these events to mitigate any potential conflicts of interest.
- This electoral scoring tool was developed by the CAQ;
- It cross-references electoral list data with voter information collected both on the ground and through social media;
- The platform was first utilized during the 2017 by-election won by Geneviève Guilbault;
- The CAQ president at that time referred to this tool as a “secret weapon.”