Allegations of bullying are mounting against Marie-Eve Proulx, CAQ MP for Côte-du-Sud. Another collaborator has filed a formal complaint with the Administrative Labor Court, Le Journal de Montreal revealed this morning.
The elected official was even expelled from the Council of Ministers after an initial series of allegations and formal complaints. As punishment, the Prime Minister withdrew the dossiers on regional economic development and SMEs. It is clear that the lesson did not seem to be understood.
While still in the news for all the wrong reasons, the Prime Minister yesterday reiterated his confidence in this loyal CAQ ally and his candidacy. He even said that one was against the other and that he believed his MP. So he chose his side and decided the whistleblower didn’t deserve his trust.
The problem is that this is not an isolated case. It’s an accumulation of difficult working relationships that the MP has dragged out since entering politics. How can the prime minister turn a blind eye to this? What message is he sending to those victims of bullying who are taking the courage to file formal complaints?
Why does he choose to pull the millstone that has become Marie-Eve Proulx on the eve of an election campaign, when the prime minister seems capable of attracting great talent and strong candidates to his team? ?
We know politics is a violent sport, but when does roughness become unacceptable in the PM’s eyes? If she is no longer worthy of ministerial responsibility, why are standards lowered for the easily elected?
The truth is that Ms. Proulx constantly embarrasses her boss. He obviously doesn’t want to “betray” her by showing her the door. Maybe she should find out for herself that it’s time to step down.
