Former Quebecor CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau has returned to the spotlight, this time over his intentions to no longer put his assets in a blind trust. As you may remember, PKP made a campaign pledge to put his holdings, which represent a huge share of Quebec’s media market, in a blind trust when he was elected. Apparently we didn’t read the fine print closely enough. Péladeau now believes he has no obligation to follow-through with his promise, because he did not become a cabinet minister. His entire campaign was apparently premised upon him being a cabinet minister. A bit presumptuous, no?
He was just kiddin’ with us the entire time.
Le Devoir
After causing the most extensive damage to the Parti Québecois since “money and ethnic votes” with his sovereignty rhetoric that lost the PQ many votes and more than a few seats, one would think that PKP would want to lay low and do no harm. As history shows, Péladeau doesn’t dabble in what he should do, but rather what should probably not do.
Commenting on his promise to put his Quebecor assets in a blind trust, PKP remarked “I didn’t say that. I said that I would follow the law. The law says that if you are part of the executive committee, you will be forced to do this.” Somehow everyone else saw it differently.
Listen PKP. It’s understandable that you’re bitter about the whole collapse of nationalist separatism in Québec. Maybe you’re trying to get Dr. Couillard’s attention? I don’t think he’s interested. He obviously doesn’t play hard-to-get. Maybe you’re trying to get your name back in the spotlight before a leadership bid? This is a silly way to do it. That’s like announcing you’re running for president of the United States by saying you’re too rich to understand the common man.
The National Assembly’s ethics commissioner has noted that Peladeau is bound by certain agreements he signed, but would not elaborate on what those actually entail. Standard ethics, y’know? Those things that he signed that require him to do some things.
A Quebecor insider told The Globe and Mail that Pierre Karl Péladeau was still actively involved in the operations of Quebecor, despite serving as a MNA. Peladeau has calmed all worries by assuring “I don’t have any comments to say on things that have been said by reporters.”