PQ defends candidate in hotly contested Arthabaska riding over leftist past, arrest
May 14, 2025 | 11:41 AM
SAINT-FERDINAND — The Parti Québécois is defending its candidate in an upcoming byelection northeast of Montreal after criticism of his far-left, militant past.
Alex Boissonneault was arrested in 2001 in Quebec City for being part of a group that had plotted to penetrate the security perimeter at a free-trade meeting called Summit of the Americas.
He was held in pretrial detention for 41 days but was subsequently sentenced to community service and eventually pardoned in 2011.
Boissonneault, 46, a former journalist with Radio-Canada, told reporters today he hopes voters in the Arthabaska riding will look past his choices as a young adult.
