The union that liberated an activist would not do it again

QUÉBEC | The union that freed the Jacques-Cartier bridge climber during the last election campaign to allow him to campaign with Quebec Solidaire admits he would not do it again.

"If I was offered the same kind of arrangement again, it's really not sure that we would accept it," said the Pointe-de-l'Île Education Union president (SEP). ), Serafino Fabrizi.

In an interview Thursday, Chantal Poulin, who became known for climbing the structure of the Jacques Cartier Bridge with other activists of the group Extinction Rebellion, revealed that she had been paid by her employer (the SEPÎ) during the last provincial election.

She was then Campaign Director for the Quebec Solidaire (QS) candidate in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, Alexandre Leduc, who was finally elected.

She was also awarded $ 2,500 in financial compensation from QS, which was reported in the party's expense report.

According to Serafino Fabrizi, this is the only release of its kind that SEPi has given to an employee in a decade.

The hours worked during the election were taken by the teacher during the summer preceding the campaign and during the last summer period.

No official notice from the DGEQ

Chantal Poulin also claimed that she had sought legal advice from a law firm and the Chief Electoral Officer of Quebec (DGEQ) to confirm that her duplication during the campaign was in accordance with the electoral laws.

But a DGEQ spokeswoman confirmed that he had never sent an official notice to Chantal Poulin. "We do not give notice to individuals," said Julie St-Arnaud Drolet.

SEPI issued a press release on Thursday announcing that it will "use all the legal and administrative tools at its disposal to defend the employment relationship of its two members involved in the Jacques Cartier Bridge incident".

The union nevertheless considers that it "could not condone such a gesture of civil disobedience".

Chantal Poulin resigned from her position as third vice-president of SEPI on October 11, but remains employed by the Pointe-de-l'Île School Board (CSPI).

Yann Robitaille is the other CSPI employee who took part in the visibility action on the Jacques Cartier Bridge.

No comment

The Autonomous Teaching Federation, to which SEPÎ is affiliated, did not wish to comment on the case.

"Out of respect for local self-government, one of the founding principles of our Federation, the AWF, recalls that this is a local decision that falls under the SEP", said a spokeswoman, Marie-Josee Nantel.

– With the collaboration of Jean-Francois Gibeault, Investigation Office and Alain Laforest, TVA Nouvelles