Quebecor's unpaid rent to the National Assembly: A question of principle, says Pierre Carl Pelado

In the press gallery of the Quebec National Assembly, Pierre Carl Peladeau affirms that Quebecor's unpaid rent is above all a question of principle since last summer.

In an interview on the show Balance sheetThe company's president and CEO commented on the daily information Press According to this the National Assembly is prepared to sue Quebecor in the absence of an “immediate agreement” regarding the rent.

“It would be ridiculous,” the businessman said Thursday.

Mr. Pelado believes the Quebec government should take the media crisis more seriously than demand money from private companies in the information sector.

“Does the National Assembly really need rent to continue its work? I think it's important that they consider the scope of the problem and they seem to ignore it, which is very surprising,” argued Quebecor's big boss.

“Why does the Government of Quebec and the Government of Canada also accept that there are two classes of journalists: a class of print press and digital press who are entitled to tax credits and a class of television journalists who are not entitled to it? What is this discrimination? He added.

Pierre Carl Pélade recalled the importance of the televised press for Quebecers, particularly through its coverage of the proceedings of the National Assembly.

“If we reduce our ability to have the necessary tools and staff, I think democracy will suffer,” he said.

“I think it is important for the government to realize from now on that television information is quality information and that it is important to the population of Quebec,” he explained.

In August 2023, Quebecor Media announced it would stop paying rent of $8,448 a month, citing the crisis facing web giants in particular, which monopolize “more than 80% of advertising revenue”.

To watch the full interview, watch the video above.