The advantages of the former prime ministers, supervised by a law

Photo Simon Clark
Minister Kathleen Weil introduced a bill Tuesday to put an end to abusive practices.

Charles Lecavalier

Tuesday, 5 December 2017 17:29

UPDATE
Tuesday, 5 December 2017 17:32

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The excess of Jean Charest and Pauline Marois have convinced the government Couillard to tighten the benefits to former prime ministers.

An envelope of $ 200,000 annually over a period of three years was granted to former prime ministers. This amount included the payment of the rent for an office function, an internet connection and the purchase of stationery, for example.

“It is anticipated that the costs will be less,” quipped the minister Kathleen Weil, who has filed a bill Tuesday to put an end to abusive practices.

A report of the parliamentary Bureau set the fire to the powder by revealing 2015 that Pauline Marois had used a portion of this sum to entrust to the former candidate of the parti québecois Dominique Payette with the task of carrying out a study on the media of Quebec.

The act arose directly “when it was learned that there had been a private contract given by ex-prime minister [Pauline Marois], which has caused, therefore, the reactions that we have seen,” said Ms. Weil.

The media have then demonstrated that Jean Charest had spent more than $ 230,000 for an office located at 1000 de la Gauchetière, a building popular in Montreal, so that the law firm McCarthy Tétrault for which he works is located in the same building. “The person did not necessarily need these types of offices,” said Ms. Weil.

In the future, no question for a former prime minister for a refund of a lavish office by the State: he will be entitled to a work space in a building owned by the government for a year. It will also have the right to an employee during the same period.

“Some undertook the archiving of documents that may have historical value to the province of Quebec” said Ms. Weil.

The future ex-PM will not give any more contracts. For security, they will have a protection on the territory of Quebec, as well as a vehicle provided by the government, a body-guard, and maintaining the protection of their residence connected to the central monitoring station of the Sûreté du Québec for a period of one-year base, for up to two years.

René Lévesque was the first to have received an allowance after his departure from politics. Initially, these benefits were given “for one year and is renewable for a second”. Since 1996, these “services” were offered over three years.