Sona Lakhoyan Olivier, the member for Chomedey, was fined $8,000 [1] for using public resources to support a partisan leadership campaign.
The sanction marks a significant breach of ethical standards regarding the separation of government funds and political campaigning in Quebec. It highlights the strict enforcement of rules designed to prevent incumbents from using taxpayer-funded offices for party advancement.
The fine follows an investigation into the spring 2025 leadership campaign [2] of Pablo Rodriguez for the Parti libéral du Québec (PLQ). According to the Ethics Commissioner of the National Assembly of Quebec, the lawmaker used her constituency office resources for partisan purposes [3].
The $8,000 penalty [1] was imposed not only for the misuse of public funds but also for obstructing the subsequent investigation [1]. The Ethics Commissioner said, "The deputy used the resources of her office for partisan purposes" [3].
This ethical breach led to severe political consequences prior to the announcement of the fine. A spokesperson for the Parti libéral du Québec said the party excluded the lawmaker from its caucus in December 2025 [4].
The case centers on the Chomedey district, where Lakhoyan Olivier served as the representative. The National Assembly's ethics code prohibits the use of public personnel, and funding, to benefit a specific candidate or party during leadership contests.
The final ruling, announced May 7, 2026 [1], confirms that the lawmaker's actions constituted a violation of these regulations. The decision underscores the legal requirement for lawmakers to maintain a strict boundary between their official duties and their political affiliations.
“The deputy used the resources of her office for partisan purposes.”
This ruling reinforces the legal boundaries of the Quebec National Assembly's ethics code, signaling that the misuse of public resources for internal party politics carries both financial and professional penalties. The exclusion of Lakhoyan Olivier from the PLQ caucus prior to the final ruling suggests a zero-tolerance approach by the party to avoid being linked to the misuse of taxpayer funds during a leadership transition.
