In an emailed statement to Radio‑Canada, Alarie described the post as “clumsy” and “bad‑taste humour,” and said it does not reflect his current thinking or that of the PCQ.

A CBC News investigation during the 2022 election campaign found that almost 30 % of the first 54 PCQ candidates announced had used their social‑media accounts during the pandemic to amplify medical misinformation, conspiracy theories, or to interact with far‑right extremists.

The controversy also coincided with criticism of other candidates. CAQ candidate Paul Dadie withdrew after remarks about a women‑only centre, and PQ candidate François Gariépy faced backlash over past comments. PCQ leader Éric Duhaime responded by accusing the governing Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) of “digging dirt” on the issue.

The episode shows how a single inflammatory social‑media comment can generate public outrage, compel a public apology, and bring a party’s overall conduct under scrutiny, highlighting the importance of careful communication for politicians in the digital age.