Sona Lakhoyan Olivier, the Member of the National Assembly for Chomedey, was found responsible for an ethics breach regarding the use of public resources [1].
The ruling highlights the strict separation between government-funded constituency offices and partisan political activities. Misusing public funds for campaign purposes is a violation of the code of ethics for deputies in Quebec [1], [2].
According to a report from the ethics commissioner published in November 2025, Lakhoyan Olivier used the resources of her constituency office to support the leadership campaign of Pablo Rodriguez for the Parti libéral du Québec [1], [3]. These events took place during the spring of 2025 during the party's leadership race [1], [4].
As a result of the breach, a penalty of $8,000 was recommended [2]. The investigation into the matter followed an external probe launched by Rodriguez concerning his own leadership campaign [4].
Lakhoyan Olivier said she had respected ethical rules at all times [5]. However, the commissioner's findings contradict this assertion, concluding that the deputy committed an ethical breach by leveraging public office assets for partisan gain [1].
The case has contributed to internal instability within the party. Earlier reports indicate that Rodriguez had previously excluded another deputy from his caucus following the ethics commissioner's investigation [3].
“Sona Lakhoyan Olivier was found responsible for an ethics breach regarding the use of public resources.”
This ruling underscores the legal boundaries of the Quebec National Assembly's ethics code, specifically the prohibition against using taxpayer-funded offices for partisan advantage. The financial penalty and the surrounding internal party turmoil suggest a broader effort to sanitize the Parti libéral du Québec's image following the 2025 leadership contest.
