Quebec.

• Author: Turcot, Christina
• Position: Legislative Reports

At the resumption of proceedings, on February 14, the composition of the National Assembly had undergone several changes in comparison with the situation at the time of adjournment in December. Indeed, the four Members of the Action democratique du Quebec (ADQ), Gerard Deltell (Chauveau), Sylvie Roy (Lotbiniere), Francois Bonnardel (Shefford) and Janvier Grondin (Beauce-Nord), now sit as independent Members under the banner of the Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ). The CAQ is the new political party launched by the former Member for Rousseau, Francois Legault. Independent Members Eric Caire (La Peltrie) and Marc Picard (Chutes-dela-Chaudiere), who had left the ADQ caucus in 2009, as well as Benoit Charette (Deux-Montagnes), Daniel Ratthe (Blainville) and Francois Rebello (La Prairie), all three from the Parti Quebecois caucus, also joined the CAQ.

The new Liberal Member for Bonaventure, Damien Arsenault, made his official entry into the National Assembly on February 14. He was elected in the by-election held on December 5, 2011. Furthermore, the electoral division of Argenteuil has been vacant since the resignation of David Whissell, last December 16.

As of February 14, the composition of the National Assembly was as follows: 64 Members of the Quebec Liberal Party, 44 Members of the Parti Quebecois, 16 independents, including 9 sitting under the banner of the CAQ, one sitting under the banner of Quebec Solidaire (Amir Khadir) and one sitting under the banner of Option nationale (Jean-Martin Aussant), as well as one vacant seat.

Proceedings of the Assembly

The Assembly passed 22 bills during the last sessional period. Of these bills, 18 were adopted unanimously. Among the more noteworthy are Bills 33 and 35, which bring important modifications to the operation of the construction industry, and Bill 120, An Act respecting political party leadership campaigns, which completes the reform of political party funding that was undertaken in recent years.

On November 22, 2011, the National Assembly held an urgent debate on Federal Bill C-10, Safe Streets and Communities Act. The President ruled that the request made by the Member for Joliette, a Member of the Official Opposition, was in order since it met the admissibility requirements established for the holding of urgent debates. Indeed, this request concerned a definite and important matter that clearly involved, from the standpoint of its impact, the responsibility of the Assembly. The request also met the urgency criterion since the passage of Bill C-10 seemed imminent and, consequently, the Assembly might not have another opportunity to vote on the matter. It should be noted that the Assembly had voted on the same issue on October 20, 2011 and unanimously carried the motion moved by the Member for Joliette during business standing in the name of Members in opposition. This motion read as follows: "That the National Assembly demand the withdrawal of the provisions of federal Bill C-10 that go against the interests of Quebec and Quebec values as regards justice, including those concerning the treatment of young offenders".

Rulings and directives from the Chair

On October 4, the President gave a ruling on a point of privilege or contempt raised by the Member for...