An unusual epistolary exchange between the head of Quebecor and Government House Leader Jean-Marc Fournier has become the latest chapter in ongoing Pierre Karl Peladeau conflict-of-interest debate.
Quebecor President Pierre Dion started the back-and-forth by sending a letter to Fournier dated May 27 asking that Fournier, "take note in a friendly way of our desire to steer clear of all partisan political debate."
Dion was responding to an episode last week in which PQ MNA Bernard Drainville attacked "Shylock" practices at Hydro Quebec for charging 14 percent interest to debtors.
Liberal MNA Pierre Arcand then rose in the National Assembly to note that Quebecor and Videotron - both controlled by PQ chief Pierre Karl Peladeau - charge about five percent more than Hydro Quebec.
"It’s normal to point out that in this context the PQ leader is also controlling shareholder of Quebecor," wrote Fournier in his reply to Dion. "I’d suggest you address your comments to the leader of the official opposition who decided to become an MNA and is now leader of the opposition rather than remaining controlling shareholder of Quebecor."
Pierre Karl Peladeau told media Monday that he had no involvement in Dion's letter.
