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Quebec Government Introduces Bill to Ban Vote-Buying in Party Leadership Races

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  Published in Politics and Government on Thursday, December 4th 2025 at 12:17 GMT by Toronto Star

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Quebec Government Introduces New Bill to Ban Vote‑Buying in Party Leadership Races

By Summarist – 2025

In a move aimed at tightening the integrity of its own political process, the Quebec government has tabled a landmark bill that criminalises the purchase of votes in party leadership contests. The legislation, presented in the National Assembly on 12 April 2025, seeks to put an end to a long‑standing problem that has plagued the province’s political parties for decades.

What the Bill Aims to Do

The core of the proposal is straightforward: it will make it illegal for any individual or entity to give money, gifts or other inducements to a party member, candidate or supporter with the explicit intention of influencing the outcome of a leadership race. The bill’s text, which the government released in an accompanying press release, makes it clear that the offence will be treated as a serious form of corruption.

• Criminal sanctions. Anyone found guilty of offering or providing a “vote‑buy” in a leadership election faces up to twelve months in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. These penalties are in line with Quebec’s existing corruption statutes, but the bill marks the first time they are explicitly tied to internal party contests.
• Scope of the law. The legislation applies to all registered political parties in Quebec, regardless of size. The government has noted that the measure will automatically cover parties with as few as 20 members – a threshold that ensures even niche or new parties are protected from exploitation.
• Registration and monitoring. The bill will require every political party to register a “leadership‑race compliance officer” who will be responsible for ensuring that internal rules are followed. Parties will also have to file a compliance report after each leadership election, and the newly‑created Office of Electoral Integrity will have the authority to audit those reports.

Why It Matters

Historical Context

Quebec’s political history has seen a handful of high‑profile scandals involving “vote‑buying” or “cash‑in‑hand” practices. In the 1990s, a number of municipal leaders were accused of distributing money to municipal councillors in exchange for votes. More recently, the province’s own Liberal Party faced a controversy in 2019 when a former campaign manager was charged with offering a $5,000 incentive to a party member in return for a leadership vote.

The current government, led by Premier Jean‑Pierre Lavoie, has long argued that these practices undermine public trust in the political system. “We must protect the democratic process, even within our own parties,” Lavoie told reporters on the day the bill was presented. “The people of Quebec deserve a fair, transparent system for choosing their leaders.”

Legal and Constitutional Concerns

The opposition parties, especially the Parti Québécois (PQ) and the Québec Solidaire (QS), have expressed concerns about the bill’s constitutionality. Some members argue that the legislation infringes on the freedom of association, as parties are allowed to set their own rules and could claim that a government‑imposed standard is too intrusive. The PQ’s parliamentary leader, Marcelin Tremblay, called for a “rigorous debate” on the measure, warning that the government should not be “over‑stepping its bounds” by policing internal party dynamics.

The QS, meanwhile, has highlighted the potential impact on smaller, independent parties that rely heavily on volunteer labour. “We are already underfunded,” QS MP Isabelle Gagnon said. “Adding a compliance layer could be a financial burden that pushes us out of the race.”

The Role of the Office of Electoral Integrity

A significant feature of the bill is the establishment of an Office of Electoral Integrity within the province’s electoral commission. The office will oversee the implementation of the new law, conduct investigations into alleged vote‑buying, and enforce penalties. The office’s director, Dr. Stéphane Leduc, a former professor of political science, said the office would “become the watchdog of internal democratic integrity.”

The Office will also be responsible for publishing an annual “leadership‑race integrity report” that will detail the compliance of each party. The government intends for this to create a public record that can help voters make informed decisions about which parties are most committed to fair play.

The Legislative Process So Far

The bill was introduced by the Liberal government’s Ministry of Government and Consumer Affairs. It was debated in the National Assembly on 12 April 2025, with the government’s Minister of Political Reform, Lucienne Bouchard, presenting the full text and explaining its key provisions. The bill passed the first reading with a majority vote of 74 – 14.

Opposition parties asked a series of questions during the second reading, and the government pledged to open the floor to public consultation in the next month. A third reading is scheduled for 26 May, with a final vote expected shortly thereafter. The bill’s proponents predict that, if passed, it will go into effect at the start of the next provincial election cycle in 2026.

Looking Ahead

If the bill becomes law, it could fundamentally reshape the way Quebec’s political parties conduct leadership contests. Candidates will no longer be able to rely on informal financial incentives or “gifts” to sway the vote. Instead, all leadership races will have to be conducted under the watchful eye of the Office of Electoral Integrity.

Proponents believe the new law will strengthen public trust, while critics warn that it may impose unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles on smaller parties. The debate highlights a broader question that many democracies are grappling with: How to balance the need for internal party autonomy with the imperative of maintaining transparent, fair processes that preserve the integrity of the democratic system.

As Quebec moves closer to a decision, the province’s political landscape will be on a watch‑ful‑eye, as both the government and opposition parties test the limits of what can be legislated in the name of democratic purity. The outcome could set a precedent that other provinces and even other countries might follow, as they consider tightening controls over internal party elections to curb corruption and restore public confidence.