As the Quebec Liberals prepare for the fall session in Gatineau, Premier Philippe Couillard is defending his party against allegations the party had reversed course over the possibility of hiring a controversial former opponent.
Frederick Schautaud had been a staffer for opposition party Coalition Avenir Quebec. Before quitting that job, he copied confidential party documents and later applied for a new job working in Liberal Economy Minister Dominique Anglade’s office.
On Wednesday, Anglade said though it was inappropriate to copy the documents, she wouldn’t rule out hiring Schautaud.
However, hours later on the same day the minister said she would not hire him.
Couillard said his party was not backtracking.
“Remember, we were not talking about a hiring, we were talking about a hiring process,” he said. “When we talked yesterday, the person had not been hired. That’s an important distinction.”
Couillard then shifted, saying many CAQ staffers are switching to the Liberals due to party leader Francois Legault’s recent focus on identity politics, citing specifically Legault’s proposal to ban the burkini, a garment warn by some devout Muslim women to the beach.
“Why is that? First, the very simplistic and sometimes ridiculous policies that are put forward, like the beach police,” said Couillard. “That would be a very classic example. But also, because it was said to them initially that federalists would be very happy at the CAQ. Well, federalists are not happy at the CAQ.”
Staffers at the CAQ denounced Couillard’s statement, saying the premier attacked the party because the Liberals are having trouble getting their own message across.
On Wednesday, Schautaud returned the documents after receiving notice from CAQ lawyers and issued an apology to his former employers, promising to respect the confidentiality of the information he had taken.
