Liberal whip warned about Gerry Sklavounos years ago, PQ source says

The office of the Quebec Liberal Party's whipreceived a complaint about the behaviour of MNA Gerry Sklavounos between 2012 and 2013, a PartiQubcois source told Radio-Canada.

According to the source, a PQ media relations officer complained to herparty thatSklavounoswas being inappropriate with her.

The party then took the concerns to the Liberal whip's chief of staff, the source said, adding the situation improved afterwards.

• Montreal-area Liberal MNA leaves caucus over sexual assault allegation

This allegationfollows claims by a Quebec City woman, Alice Paquet, who publicly named SklavounosThursdayas having sexually assaulted her in 2014.

Sklavounos has not been charged with any crime. Quebec City police have an open investigation into the allegations.

On Wednesday Paquet told a crowd at Laval University that she was sexually assaulted by an MNA but didnot nameanyone at that time. She spoke out during avigil for women who were assaulted on campus the week prior.

Couillarddefends handling

Speaking at a news conference in Ontario,Premier Philippe Couillard said he was first made aware of Paquet's allegations on Wednesday. It was only on Thursday, he said, that he discovered they concerned a member of his party.

"Our reaction was quick and decisive," Couillard said Friday.

Sklavounos was asked to leave the party on Thursday. He will nowsit as an independent.

Neither Radio-Canada nor CBC News have been able to reach him for comment.

Restaurant denounces sexual misconduct

Paquet was working at a restaurant,theLouis-Hberton Quebec City's popular GrandeAlleBoulevard, when she says she first metSklavounos.

The owners of the restaurant issued a statement Fridaysayingthey were "profoundly shocked" by the allegations.

"This kind of behaviour has no place in a restaurant, a hotel or Quebec society," the statement said.

• Who is Gerry Sklavounos, MNA facing assault allegations?