Notice sent to TVA in potential suit made public by Ouellet
Bloc Québécois leader Martine Ouellet has pushed ahead in her attack on TVA for comments made about her that were broadcast on March 8 on the French-language television network’s show La Joute.
On March 19, Ouellet’s lawyer, Guy Bertrand, sent a formal notice warning of possible legal action against Groupe TVA, Paul Larocque, host of La Joute, a public affairs program, as well as the commentators who appeared that day; Bernard Drainville, Caroline St-Hilaire and Luc Lavoie.
The formal notice was made public on Friday.
The Bloc Québécois leader is demanding the retraction of comments made during the program that she considers to have been defamatory toward her.
During a press conference at his offices in Quebec City, next to Plains of Abraham, Bertrand said his client was described as “a dishonest woman who is ready to do anything including using shady manoeuvres.”
According to Bertrand, Ouellet was deeply affected by what she heard during the program as was her mother and her two children.
The lawyer gave TVA 48 hours to retract what was said. He said the network did not reply to the demand in writing. Ouellet now has up to a year to decide whether she will take legal action and claim damages, plus interest, for the prejudice she believes she has suffered.
On March 8, during the program, Larocque and the commentators talked about the crisis the Bloc Québécois is going through with the recent departure of seven of its MPs. Ouellet proposed holding a referendum on whether the party ’s role should be oriented toward the promotion of sovereignty or defending the interests of Quebec in the House of Commons.
Ouellet, who did not take part in Bertrand’s press conference, did not appreciate having her suggestion called “shady, dishonest, stupid and absurd,” during the program.
Bertrand said the commentators used sarcasm and mocked Ouellet and were “relentless on this woman” without reason. He added that Ouellet is pursuing the legal action on her own and that the Bloc will not be paying him for his work.
Bertrand said he was horrified by the use of the word “dishonest” during the exchange between the commentators and said it is “catastrophic” when used to describe a politician.
He said he was not surprised to see that the formal notice did not produce the retraction demanded because “journalists never admit their mistakes.”
He denied that Ouellet’s actions could stifle the freedom of the press.
“Journalists, I call them the parrots of information. It’s as if they can never make mistakes. It’s as if they have the right to do anything,” Bertrand told the reporters who attended his news conference.
Larocque responded to Ouellet’s demand on air and cited his right to the freedom of expression as a defence. His program, he said, serves to analyze what is happening in politics and to help viewers form an opinion. He also said there will be no retraction.
“We will continue to do our work, no more, no less, without being distracted,” Larocque said.