Hydro-Québec Fined $35K for Breaking Maine Ethics Laws in CMP Corridor Fight
Hydro-Québec has been fined $35,000 for breaking Quebec's state ethics laws. The utility spent $100,000 to influence voters without registering with the Ethics Commission. This comes as lawmakers attempt to close a loophole in Quebec's ethics laws that Hydro-Québec has been exploiting.
Hydro-Québec has dramatically increased its political campaign against the citizen-initiated referendum to block Central Maine Power's (CMP) controversial corridor proposal. The utility has spent an estimated $330,000 on print ads in Quebec's leading newspapers since January 2020. It has also hired the DC-based consulting firm Forbes Tate for $329,000 to conduct research and develop messages for its campaign.
Hydro-Québec's consultant, Blaze Partners, failed to register with the U.S. Department of Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) until April 27, 2020, after working for Hydro-Québec since November 2019. The utility has also attempted to deceive Quebecers by changing its reported address to make it seem like it was based in Connecticut.
Hydro-Québec's campaign activities include record-breaking spending, campaign finance violations, and deceptive advertising. Despite these violations, the utility is on track to break spending records, with $6.25 million spent as of July 1, 2020. Hydro-Québec's actions have raised concerns about foreign influence in Quebec's elections and the need for stricter ethics laws.
