Quebec's 'brownie bill' passes, banning vote buying in leadership races

QUEBEC — Legislators rushed through approval of a law on Thursday to plug a hole in Quebec’s electoral code that, until now, had made vote buying in party leadership races legal.

The vote passed unanimously using an accelerated procedure.

Nicknamed the “brownie bill,” the legislation responds to allegations that certain Quebec Liberal Party members received “brownies” — or $100 bills — to support Pablo Rodriguez in his successful run for party leader this spring.

Those allegations have spiralled into a deepening crisis for Rodriguez, who faces calls to resign amid confirmation Wednesday that Quebec’s anticorruption police had begun an investigation into his party.

The bill applies both to party leadership races and riding nomination contests and makes it illegal to either offer or accept “a gift, loan, office, employment or other benefit” in exchange for a vote.

Such an act was already illegal during a general election.

This report will be updated.

jawilson@postmedia.com