Assemblee nationale.

• Author: Boutin, Stephanie
• Position: Legislative Reports

QUEBEC

In compliance with the new parliamentary calendar adopted in April 2009, the autumn sessional period resumed on Tuesday, September 15. This first sitting was marked by the welcoming of the two new Members, Clement Gignac and Jean D'Amour, elected on June 22, 2009 in the electoral divisions of Marguerite-Bourgeoys and Riviere-du-Loup.

Extraordinary sitting

The Members of the National Assembly were summoned by Premier Jean Charest for an extraordinary sitting on Friday, September 18, to complete the legislative process respecting Bill 40, An Act to amend the Balanced Budget Act and various legislative provisions concerning the implementation of the accounting reform, which had reached the stage of clause-by-clause consideration in committee.

After debate on the grounds for summoning the Assembly and on the motions by the Government House Leader determining the timetable and speaking times provided for in the exceptional procedure, the bill passed all of the stages in the legislative process for its adoption.

This Act suspends temporarily the effect of certain provisions of the Balanced Budget Act and enables the Minister of Finance to present objectives for decreasing budgetary deficits. It also establishes the manner in which the Minister is to account for the achievement of those objectives. Furthermore, this Act provides for the implementation of the accounting reform with respect to the full consolidation of financial information from bodies in the health and social services network and the education network with that of the Government.

By-election

Nicolas Marceau won the by-election held in the electoral division of Rousseau, on September 21, 2009, thus filling the seat left vacant by Francois Legault, who resigned last June.

The seats in the Assembly are now distributed as follows: Quebec Liberal Party, 67 Members; Parti Quebecois, 51 Members; Action democratique du Quebec, 6 Members; Quebec Solidaire, 1 Member.

Cabinet shuffle

Last September 9, 2009, Sam Hamad, who is currently responsible for the Employment and Social Solidarity portfolios as well as for the Capitale-Nationale region, was appointed Minister of Labour in replacement of David Whissell, Member for Argenteuil. The Cabinet is now composed of 14 men and 12 women.

Directive from the Chair

At the sitting of September 17, the Chair reminded the Members of the rules that apply to petitions and which were introduced by the parliamentary reform of April 2009. The Chair will refuse any petition containing more than 250 words, or that is not printed on...