Pierre Fitzgibbon back as Quebec economy minister, plans to run in 2022

MONTREAL -

Quebec Premier Francois Legault has welcomed Pierre Fitzgibbon back to cabinet after he withdrew in June because of ethics violations.

Legault told a news conference today alongside Fitzgibbon that he will resume his role as economy minister after he sold shares in two companies in order to comply with requirements laid out by the ethics commissioner.

Fitzgibbon, who represents the suburban Montreal riding of Terrebonne, told reporters he'd considered leaving politics but ultimately decided he wanted to continue in the role. He also announced he would run again in next year's provincial election.

Fitzgibbon left cabinet after he was targeted by the ethics czar for failing to divest himself of shares in two companies that did business with the province and could place him in a conflict of interest.

Commissioner Ariane Mignolet recommended Fitzgibbon be suspended from the legislature until he sold those shares or until he resigned from his role as a cabinet minister and placed the shares in a blind trust.

Fitzgibbon declined Wednesday to confirm how much money he lost by selling his shares, saying only that it "wasn't the best financial transaction" of his career.

In June, Fitzgibbon said he stood to lose $1 million if he had accepted the offers he had received at the time.

Legault had pledged to reinstate Fitzgibbon when the situation was resolved. In the interim, the role was managed by Finance Minister Eric Girard.

-- This report by The Canadian Press was first published on Sept. 1, 2021.