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On the heels of the resignation of the Coalition Avenir Québec president Tuesday, another of the party’s candidates is embroiled in a controversy for accepting a $55,000 personal loan from a suburban mayor in Quebec City.

Éric Caire, the CAQ MNA for the Quebec City riding of La Peltrie, acknowledged Wednesday in a televised news conference that he accepted a personal loan a year ago from Émile Loranger, the mayor of L’Ancienne-Lorette, to buy a house in the municipality.

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Loranger has been on a leave of absence as mayor since January following an allegation of psychological harassment by a municipal employee.

Caire, who was the CAQ’s deputy house leader and critic for the Treasury Board and public administration, admitted that accepting the loan might have been a mistake, but said he did so at a difficult time in his personal life and has since paid it back.

The revelation left CAQ Leader François Legault defending one of his candidates over an ethical issue for the second time in two days.