Former Liberal leader Rodriguez insists he knew nothing of alleged illegal donations
Both Elections Quebec and the province’s anti-corruption squad have concluded their investigations into former Quebec Liberal Party leader Pablo Rodriguez, who maintained his innocence in his first interview following the scandal with Noovo Info.
Rodriguez resigned in December 2025, roughly six months after being elected leader, amidst allegations of vote-buying and illegal donations during his leadership campaign, as well as a public spat with his parliamentary leader at the time Marwah Rizqy.
Elections Quebec is preparing a report that will be given to prosecutors, who will determine the actions taken.
On Aug. 25, the Journal de Montréal reported that 300 people were interviewed in the course of the investigation, and Elections Quebec was aiming to send out notices of violation by winter.
As the Journal’s initial reporting stated, there is no evidence that Rodriguez knew about the straw-donor scheme. They reported that a Montreal area businessman had reimbursed around 20 people with $500 in exchange for donations to Rodriguez’s campaign. They also alleged that people were offered money to vote for Rodriguez in the race, based on text messages whose veracity has been questioned.
Former QS, PQ candidate under ethics investigation
Rosemont MNA Vincent Marissal is under investigation by Quebec’s ethics commissioner due to possible improper use of his government subsidized apartment, CBC News reported.
He is alleged to have used a home exchange website to list his Quebec City apartment, which is taxpayer subsidized, in exchange for accommodations abroad.
Marissal, who used to be a member of Québec solidaire, was ousted by the party last year when he was believed to be in discussions with the Parti Québécois, and only joined the PQ as a candidate two days before they booted him on Aug. 26 after the allegations came to light.
“As 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 — even for alleged wrongdoings or issues — we must take a strict zero-tolerance approach,” PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon wrote in a statement.
Daniel Gobeil to represent Chicoutimi—Le Fjord following fed byelection
Liberal candidate Daniel Gobeil is one of the newest members of the House of Commons, as he won Monday night’s federal byelection in Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, near Saguenay Radio-Canada reported.
A dairy farmer and former chair of Les Producteurs de lait du Québec, Gobeil won with more than 50 per cent of the vote.
“As you know, our region is the hardest hit by the tariff war, […] but here we are transforming the economy—Quebec’s economy, Canada’s economy,” he told supporters in French Monday night.
The seat was vacated by Conservative MP Richard Martel, who was named to the Senate by Prime Minister Mark Carney in July. Martel, a former hockey coach, held the seat since 2018. In the most recent election in 2025, there was a rough three-way split with the Conservatives, Bloc Québécois and Liberals.
Two other byelections took place the same night in Toronto and Vancouver, with another pair of Liberals joining the legislature.
