January 16, 2014 •
Quebec Doctors Accused of Illegal Lobbying
Drs. Gaétan Barrette and Frédéric Desjardins have been accused of engaging in illegal lobbying of former Quebec Health Minister Philippe Couillard. Barrette and Desjardins wrote a letter to Couillard regarding the ownership of private radiology clinics at a time the […]
Drs. Gaétan Barrette and Frédéric Desjardins have been accused of engaging in illegal lobbying of former Quebec Health Minister Philippe Couillard.
Barrette and Desjardins wrote a letter to Couillard regarding the ownership of private radiology clinics at a time the government was adopting legislation to regulate them. At the time they wrote the letter, neither Barrette nor Desjardins was registered with Quebec’s Registry of Lobbyists.
Prosecutors are alleging the doctors engaged in “an act of lobbying” because they could influence the legislative agenda. Barrette and Desjardins are challenging the accusation on the basis of freedom of expression. If found guilty of illegal lobbying, the doctors are subject to fines ranging from $500 to $25,000.
State and Federal Communications, Inc. provides research and consulting services for government relations professionals on lobbying laws, procurement lobbying laws, political contribution laws in the United States and Canada. Learn more by visiting stateandfed.com.
