Fired Quebec Liberal chief of staff sends legal letter to former employer

QUÉBEC — A former Quebec Liberal Party chief of staff has sent a legal letter to her former employer, as the crisis within the party shows no signs of relenting.

A lawyer for Geneviève Hinse issued the letter to Liberal member Marwah Rizqy claiming she had fired the staffer without reason or explanation. The notice by lawyer Jacques Jeansonne, a copy of which was obtained by The Canadian Press, gives Rizqy 24 hours to publicly admit that there were no grounds for Hinse’s dismissal and says legal action will begin if the deadline passes.

“You did not explain your decision to her, nor to the party authorities, to whom you cited the confidentiality of your reasons, when in fact you had none,” the letter said. Jeansonne then asserts that Rizqy’s silence “aggravates the harm suffered” by his client.

Liberal Party Leader Pablo Rodriguez dismissed Rizqy from her position as parliamentary leader on Tuesday and suspended her from the caucus, citing a breach of trust. Rodriguez has said he made the decision after learning she had fired Hinse without consulting him first.

He told reporters Wednesday he didn’t know why Hinse had been dismissed. “Only Ms. Rizqy knows, and eventually she will have to say.” Rodriguez, who doesn’t hold a seat in the legislature, had entrusted Rizqy to serve as the party’s leader in the national assembly until the 2026 general election.

Rodriguez is facing his biggest crisis since becoming leader of the Quebec Liberals in June, after a news report on Wednesday alleged some party members were paid to vote for him in the leadership campaign. The former federal cabinet minister has said he has nothing to hide and has asked the president of the Liberals to investigate the allegations.

A report by Quebecor alleges two people who “actively worked” to elect Rodriguez as Liberal leader had exchanged text messages suggesting some members would receive cash rewards in exchange for their votes.

The news outlet did not identify the names of the people who had allegedly sent the text messages and The Canadian Press has not verified whether the messages are authentic.

It’s unclear whether there is any connection between Hinse’s dismissal and the allegations about Rodriguez’s leadership campaign.

Meanwhile, Quebec’s elections authority says there is no penalty for exchanging money for a vote during party leadership races. However, Élections Québec says the Election Act does regulate leadership campaign financing.

“Candidates’ campaign funds must come from contributions of no more than $500 per voter, and all their campaign expenses must be reported,” says spokesperson Julie St-Arnaud-Drolet.

Élections Québec says it is illegal under the province’s election law to exchange money for votes in a byelection or general election.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 20, 2025.

Thomas Laberge, The Canadian Press