Quebec government offers to reimburse grieving couple for donation
Posted February 9, 2024 1:50 pm.
Last Updated February 9, 2024 2:13 pm.
The Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) is offering to reimburse grieving parents who paid $200 to meet with Transport Minister Geneviève Guilbault to talk about their fight against drunk driving.
Caught in another fundraising controversy, Premier François Legault’s party confirmed on Friday morning that it had contacted the couple, Antoine Bittar and Élizabeth Rivera.
CAQ Executive Director Brigitte Legault said in a text message that the party has offered to refund the couple, and they will respect whatever decision is made.
Rivera and Bittar have been fighting to lower the province’s blood-alcohol limit from 0.08 to 0.05 (50 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood) since the loss of their daughter in 2017 to a drunk driver.
In a parliamentary committee on Thursday, Rivera said that a member of staff from MNA Marilyne Picard’s office had offered them the chance to meet the minister at a fundraising event.
They had to pay $200 total, $100 per person, to get two minutes per person to speak with Picard.
The opposition has denounced this fundraising method.
Picard and Guilbault have both apologized but accused the opposing parties of political recuperation.
This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews.
