The Ethics Commissioner will investigate the financial assistance of $50 million paid by the government to a company one of whose directors is close to Pierre Fitzgibbon.

• Read also: $ 150 million in public funds in firms of Fitzgibbon's agent

Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon authorized an investment in the LMPG company in November 2021 through the Ministry of the Economy.

This transaction was carried out while one of the company's shareholders and directors, Michel Ringuet, was acting as an agent of the trust without the Minister's right of inspection. Pierre Fitzgibbon was also a director of LMPG from 2013 to 2017.

In reaction to the revelation of this investment by the Journal, PQ MP Joël Arseneau asked the Ethics Commissioner, Ariane Mignolet, to shed light on the events and to determine whether Pierre Fitzgibbon's actions could have effect of favoring the interests of Michel Ringuet.

On Friday, the Ethics Commissioner informed Mr. Arseneau of her decision to follow up on his request. "I have sent a copy of your request to the minister and inform you that an investigation is open," reads a letter obtained by the QMI Agency.

This is the fifth investigation by the Ethics Commissioner targeting Pierre Fitzgibbon. The minister was blamed three times.

The Parti Québécois said it was “satisfied” that the issue was deemed important enough by the Ethics Commissioner and that an investigation is now open.

“It is essential to ensure compliance with the rules of ethics, at the start of the mandate of a government which enjoys a very strong majority. And particularly with regard to a minister who enjoys unparalleled powers in his new role as superminister,” declared the deputy of the Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Joël Arseneau.