Quebec MNAs will refuse radio interviews with Nathalie Normandeau
All political parties in Quebec will avoid former cabinet minister's new radio show
Quebec's political parties don't agree on much, but they have agreed to blacklist Nathalie Normandeau, the former Liberal deputy premier who is facing a slew of corruption charges.
Normandeau was working as a radio host when she was arrested in March. She is slated to return to the airwaves this fall, hosting a program on the Quebec City station BLVD 102.1.
But in a remarkable show of unity, every party in the National Assembly has, over the past 12 hours, declared it will not grant interviews to Normandeau. Not even last session's gun registry bill had unanimous support.
"We want to avoid our members getting themselves in a situation where they could interfere with a legal process," said Charles Robert, a spokesman for Premier Philippe Couillard.
Robert said Liberal MNAs would still be able to speak with other journalists from BLVD. The party won't object with interview clips being played on Normandeau's show, simply the prospect of MNAs speaking with her directly.
Opposition joins Normandeau blacklist
Parti Québécois interim leader Sylvain Gaudreault circulated an email to his caucus Tuesday night, instructing them not to grant interviews to Normandeau.
A spokesperson for the Coalition Avenir Québec's caucus said a similar directive was issued within its ranks.
"We believe in the presumption of innocence but Ms. Normandeau currently doesn't have the credibility to talk politics with CAQ MNAs," Emilie Toussaint told Radio-Canada.
Quebec Solidaire's Amir Khadir also said the party won't be giving interviews to Normandeau. Khadir suggested though that he would reconsider if she agreed to discuss corruption during Liberal Premier Jean Charest's mandate.
New low in fall from grace
Normandeau's outcast status is a further revolution in the stunning turn of fortunes for someone who was once among the most powerful politicians in Quebec City.
Normandeau held several different cabinet portfolios in Charest's governments, including acting as his second-in-command.
But she is now charged with conspiracy, corruption, breach of trust and bribery for incidents that allegedly took place while she was a minister.
Shortly after her arrest, Normandeau was fired by Cogeco Media, where she co-hosted a popular French-language program on FM 93.
She is now suing Cogeco for $772,500, claiming wrongful dismissal. Her new radio program is scheduled to begin airing Sept. 6.
with files from Radio-Canada