CAQ MNA caught breaking COVID rules leaves caucus
A Coalition Avenir Québec MNA caught on video failing to respect pandemic distancing and mask rules has withdrawn from the party caucus.
In a statement issued Thursday, Denis Tardif, the MNA for the riding of Rivière-du-Loup—Té-miscouata, says he recognizes he made a mistake for taking part in what appears to be an office party at a bar Wednesday night.
“Last night I made a mistake,” Tardif said. “I sincerely regret this and it is for this reason that I decided to withdraw from the CAQ caucus.
“I should have shown an example and limited my contacts and respected the distancing rules as recommended by the government and public health.”
The TVA network ran video footage Thursday of the soirée, during which Tardif is seen at a table with members of his riding staff, including a man who appears to have had too much to drink.
According to rules announced by Premier François Legault a day earlier, “activities such as office parties are prohibited in all regions.”
The bar in question is in Rivièredu-loup, which is in the Bas- SaintLaurent region. That region was on orange alert Wednesday night but moved to red alert Thursday.
Under Quebec's alert system, in orange zones, bars can remain open with a maximum of six people per table. It's unclear from the video how many people were sitting with Tardif. Bars in red zones must remain closed.
In the same statement, party whip Éric Lefebvre, who is in charge of caucus discipline, says the CAQ takes the situation “very seriously.”
“Our health system is under extreme pressure and lives are at stake,” Lefebvre said. “At a particularly critical moment in this second wave, where we ask extra efforts by all the population, we are of the view that those who are elected must be the first to follow the established rules.
“Under the circumstances, I have accept the request of Mr. Tardif to withdraw temporarily from our caucus.”
Last week, Tardif retweeted a message from the premier: “There is a unique opportunity ahead with the holiday season. Now is the time to turn the tide of contagion. But if the people get together, it'll get us nothing. It will cancel the effect.”