Vote-buying during Quebec leadership races no longer permitted
Posted December 11, 2025 4:51 pm.
The National Assembly unanimously adopted Bill 14 on Thursday, which prohibits vote buying in leadership races, thus closing a loophole in the electoral law.
Last month, the Journal de Montréal published text messages suggesting that sums of money, referred to as “brownies,” had been paid to encourage votes for Pablo Rodriguez in the Liberal leadership race.
The Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) has since launched an investigation to shed light on these allegations.
Élections Québec had stated at the time that “in the context of a leadership race, the Electoral Act does not provide for an offence prohibiting someone from making a donation in exchange for a vote.”
READ: Independent report into Quebec Liberal vote-buying allegations due in January 2026
This practice was therefore permitted, provided, among other things, that all candidate expenses were recorded in a report submitted to the Chief Electoral Officer of Quebec (DGEQ).
In light of this information, it had become “obvious” that legislation was needed, said Jean-François Roberge, the minister responsible for democratic institutions, when he tabled his bill last week.
“When we saw the infamous ‘brownies’ of the Quebec Liberal Party, it was clear we had to act. We were agile and quick, and I’m happy to close that loophole,” he said.
The new law also regulates mayoral and party nomination races. It provides for a fine of $5,000 to $20,000 for a first offence, and $10,000 to $30,000 for any repeat offence within ten years.
It should be noted that it was already illegal in Quebec to pay money in exchange for a vote in general elections and byelections.
On Thursday, at the time of the vote, Minister Roberge received the support of all political parties represented in the National Assembly, all of which had already declared their support for banning “brownies.”
Bill 14 was therefore passed swiftly, without any special consultations, contrary to the usual process.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
