Assemblee Nationale: Quebec.

• Author: Pinchaud, Marc
• Position: Legislative Reports - Jean-Charles-Bonenfant Foundation grants scholarships to university graduate students - Roch Cholette elected as member of the National Conference of State Legislatures - Michel Bissonnet submitted a brief to Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

The President of the Assembly, Michel Bissonnet, submitted a brief to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) concerning the accessibility of the Quebec National Assembly Channel to all cable television customers.

Submitted in the name of the Quebec National Assembly and with the support of the legislative assemblies of Alberta, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nunavut, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador, the Yukon and Northwest Territories, this brief asks the CRTC to issue an order requesting that the broadcast signal of the National Assembly proceedings be distributed by cable service distributors in all Quebec regions, via both cable and satellite.

"As the parliamentary proceedings constitute the very foundation of democracy, it is of paramount importance that all citizens have access to the broadcast thereof", stated Mr. Bissonnet.

Interparliamentary Relations

A delegation of Members, led by President Bissonnet, took part in the 31st session of the Assemblee parlementaire de la Francophonie held from 5 to 9 July 2005 in Brussels, Belgium. During the general debate attended by some 175 Francophone parliamentarians from Africa, America and Europe, Mr. Bissonnet provided insight into Quebec's experience with regard to cultural policy and emphasized the importance, for Quebec, that UNESCO adopt this autumn the Convention on the Protection of the Diversity of Cultural Contents and Artistic Expressions.

Five Members of the National Assembly took part in the General Assembly of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) which was held from 17 to 20 August 2005. The Members of the National Assembly comprising the delegation are members of two of this association's committees, namely the Committee on the Environment and Natural Resources and the Committee on Economic Development, Trade and Cultural Affairs.

Roch Cholette, the Member for Hull, was elected as member of the executive committee of the NCSL. Mr. Cholette thus became the first non-American member to take part in these proceedings. The National Assembly of Quebec has been an international associated member of the NCSL since 2000. Established in 1975, this non-partisan organization brings together representatives of the legislative assemblies of all of the American States and territories.

Last July 22, the Member for Pontiac, Mrs. Charlotte L'Ecuyer, was elected as substitute member of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians...