Liberal MNA quits caucus in wake of allegations
QUEBEC Liberal MNA Yves St-Denis has withdrawn from the party caucus in the wake of allegations of sexual misconduct that may spell the end of his political career.
St-Denis, the MNA for Argenteuil who is known for his use of salty language in the legislature, withdrew following a report by Cogeco media that he sent a party employee a photo of a sexual act.
The premier’s office confirmed Tuesday that St-Denis, 54, a former school board commissioner elected to the legislature in 2014, has withdrawn from caucus and is under investigation for his behaviour.
Sources said St-Denis was not given much of a choice, that he withdraw or be kicked out.
In a statement issued later, caucus chairperson Filomena Rotiroti said St-Denis will now sit as an independent. There is no mention of this being a temporary measure.
The investigation was opened just before the Christmas holidays after a woman took her complaint to the Liberal whip, Nicole Ménard, who is in charge of caucus discipline.
Ménard referred the case to the National Assembly human resources section for an investigation of sexual harassment.
St-Denis is also under investigation by the party itself as part of its screening process of candidates for the October election.
The incident dates back to 2014 just after St-Denis won his riding in the election and following a conference call held by Premier Philippe Couillard with the candidates in the Laurentian region.
Cogeco reported that a woman who participated in the conference call was shocked by St-Denis’s behaviour the day after the call when they spoke again on the phone.
The conversation rapidly veered into lewd talk and moments later the woman received a cellphone photo from St-Denis of a man receiving oral sex. She thought the person in the picture was St-Denis, but she could not be certain because the face was not visible.
St-Denis was not granting interviews Tuesday and was not present in the legislature.
Questioned by Cogeco Monday, he did not deny sending the photo but downplayed the incident, insisting it was a joke and not a photo of him. He said he snapped the photo off a porn flick playing on his television screen.
But the woman in question did not find it funny and reported it even though St-Denis said he believed they were on the “same wavelength” when he sent the photo.
It’s not the first time St-Denis’ behaviour has raised eyebrows. There have been media reports of another incident where he exchanged inappropriate photos with another employee.
He has also been given a dressing down in the past by the Liberal whip for his inappropriate jokes and frequent bouts of anger with his staff, Cogeco said.
In December 2016, MNAs with Québec solitaire and the Coalition Avenir Québec complained to the House speaker that he was using “insulting and violent” language in his attacks on them on top of constantly interrupting them.
“He behaves like a goon,” QS MNA Amir Khadir said then.
The revelation throws St-Denis’s political future into doubt. He had asked for his nomination meeting for the looming election be held April 29, but that date has now been put off.
Commenting in Montreal Tuesday, Couillard said this is not the kind of behaviour he wants to see on the part of MNAs.
“Obviously, it’s a regrettable situation,” Couillard said, noting all the procedures in such cases were followed to the letter. “These are not behaviours that we condone. On the contrary, we don’t want this in our group or any political group.”
Couillard added a remark that seems to suggest St-Denis will not be allowed to run again.
“This renders his candidacy much more difficult,” Couillard said.
Arriving for a morning meeting of their caucus, other Liberals seemed relieved the situation had become public.
Opposition MNAs, however, wondered why the Liberals allowed St-Denis to continue sitting in caucus for five more months after the complaint was filed.
“The question for the premier and the Liberals is when did they know and how do they explain their action and inaction,” asked Parti Québécois Leader Jean-François Lisée.
Ménard explained that once a case has been referred to human resources, a neutral investigator takes over and she no longer has any involvement until the investigator determines if the case is solid enough to pursue and reports back, which is what happened Tuesday.
“This is what you call sexual harassment,” said Québec solitaire co-spokesperson Manon Massé.
“What a lack of judgment on the part of an elected official,” added Nathalie Roy, the Coalition Avenir Québec MNA for Montarville. “What a monocle macho. I can’t believe it.”
St-Denis becomes the third Liberal kicked out of caucus for allegations of sexual misconduct.
Laurier-Dorion MNA Gerry Sklavounos got the boot in 2016 and Brome-Mississquoi MNA Pierre Paradis in 2017.