Former Quebec Solidaire MNA Vincent Marissal was a candidate for the Parti Québécois (PQ) for only two days. On Wednesday, PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon announced on social media that he was removing Marissal from the Taschereau riding due to an alleged breach of ethics. “It was brought to my attention today that Vincent Marissal allegedly lent out his apartment—for which he received an allowance from the National Assembly—in exchange for free lodging elsewhere in the world, through an online home-sharing platform. Although there was no monetary gain per se, this is nonetheless a benefit that has market value,” he explained. “In all likelihood, this situation does not stand up to scrutiny under our code of ethics as elected officials, which strictly prohibits us from deriving any profit or benefit from National Assembly allowances. “Under these circumstances, even though I have great respect for Vincent Marissal, I must apply the principles that guide the Parti Québécois, without ever making any exceptions. I therefore regret to announce that Vincent Marissal and I have agreed that he will withdraw his candidacy in Taschereau. We will announce our candidate for Taschereau as early as tomorrow,” continued the PQ leader.Marissal made a splashy entrance into the pre-election campaign on Monday. A former member of the National Assembly for Québec Solidaire, he had previously dabbled with the Liberal Party of Canada. In an interview with La Presse last March, he stated that “defectors don’t go over very well.” Marissal stepped in at the last minute to replace candidate Jeanne Robin in Taschereau, who had withdrawn for personal reasons. - This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Aug. 26, 2026.
