Assemblee nationale, Quebec.

• Author: Ford, Nancy

On June 19, 1997, the National Assembly adjourned its proceedings for the summer holidays after having held 47 sittings since the House resumed last March. During this period, more than 60 bills were passed, several of which were of a socioeconomic nature.

The establishment of two new ministries reflects the Government's concern with respect to this matter. Hence, the new Ministry of Employment and Solidarity shall be responsible for manpower, employment, income security and family allowances, while the main objective of the Ministry of Child and Family Welfare is to enhance this institution and to promote its full development.

The Assembly also passed a bill to establish a fund to combat poverty, a bill to assist young persons and adults in entering trades and professions by focussing on in-plant training, as well as a bill to set up a committee for the purpose of promoting the economic, cultural and social development of Greater Montreal.

A Private Member's Public Bill was also on the legislative agenda. The object of this bill is to require the disclosure of the compensation received by executive officers of companies listed on the stock exchange. With the passage of this bill, Quebec now has regulations on securities similar to those set forth by Ontario and the United States in recent years.

One will recall that in December 1996, the Assembly had passed legislation to provide for the constitution of an Energy Board designated, amongst other things, to examine the complaints of customers dissatisfied with services provided by electricity distributors. In June, the Energy Efficiency Agency was, in turn, established by law, and was given the power to advise the Energy Board on matters pertaining to energy efficiency. The agency also has the responsibility of informing and enhancing the awareness of energy consumers with respect to the advantages of energy efficiency, while providing technical support for research and development in this field.

On a more sombre note, Members were reminded of the devastation caused by the torrential rains of July 1996 in the Saguenay, Lac-Saint-Jean region when a bill concerning the reconstruction and redevelopment of the areas affected was introduced in the Assembly. It should be noted that an unusual practice occurred as large-scale aerial photographs of the devastated areas were tabled in the Assembly, copies of which are reproduced in appendix to the bill.

The Charter of the French Language was amended...