Ethics commissioner recommends $8K fine against former Quebec Liberal member
The report says Sona Lakhoyan Olivier used constituency resources for Pablo Rodriguez’s leadership bid and tried to obstruct the investigation.
- Quebec ethics commissioner Ariane Mignolet recommended an $8,000 fine Thursday for Chomedey MNA Sona Lakhoyan Olivier, finding she misused constituency resources for Pablo Rodriguez's 2025 Liberal leadership campaign.
- Mignolet's report found Olivier pressured staff to perform partisan activities between April and June 2025 while being paid by the National Assembly to work 'to satisfy the high expectations and demands' set by the politician.
- Investigators determined Olivier attempted to obstruct the probe by influencing staff testimony and concealing communications, actions Mignolet described as 'undeniably serious' failings requiring a 'real deterrent effect.'
- In a statement Thursday, Quebec Liberal Leader Charles Milliard confirmed Olivier remains excluded from the Liberal caucus and cannot run for the party in the fall election, calling her actions 'serious and worrisome.'
- Having been excluded from the caucus in December 2025, the MNA now sits as an Independent, officially barred from returning to the Quebec Liberal Party following the commissioner's findings.
15 Articles
15 Articles
Sona Lakhoyan Olivier remains ousted from Quebec Liberal Party over ethics investigation report
The MNA for Chomedey will not be returning to the Quebec Liberal Party after an ethics commission found that she misused public funds during Pablo Rodriguez's leadership campaign and tried to obstruct the ensuing investigation into her conduct.
The Toronto Star
Ethics commissioner recommends $8K fine against former Quebec Liberal member
QUÉBEC - Quebec's ethic commissioner is recommending an $8,000 fine against a former Liberal member of the legislature for using her constituency resources for the 2025 Liberal leadership race.
Recommends $8,000 fine for using riding offices for partisan reasons during Rodriguez campaign.
MP Sona Lakhoyan Olivier violated the National Assembly's code of ethics by using her Chomedey office for partisan purposes, in favour of Pablo Rodriguez during the Liberal leadership race, concludes the Ethics Commissioner. She also hindered Ariane Mignolet's investigative work, which recommends imposing a penalty of $8,000.
A $8,000 penalty is imposed on MP Lakhoyan for using public funds for partisan purposes and obstructing the investigation
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