Legislative reports (Quebec).

• Author: Ford, Sylvia

When proceedings adjourned in December 2001, the Members of the Quebec National Assembly had passed forty-two public bills, six private bills, and one private member's public bill since the resumption of proceedings last October.

On the eve of the Assembly's adjournment, the Government House Leader moved a motion to introduce an exceptional legislative procedure (see section on Modifications to the Standing Orders) in order to adopt a bill amending various legislative provisions concerning municipal affairs.

Cabinet Shuffle

On 30 January 2002, Premier Bernard Landry made some important changes to his Cabinet, which is now composed of 31 Ministers and 4 Secretaries of State. On the eve of this major Cabinet shuffle, three Ministers announced their resignation. Messrs. Jacques Brassard, Guy Chevrette and David Cliche each left their ministerial functions as well as their seat as Member. Furthermore, on February 12, Gilles Baril announced his resignation as Minister; he will however continue to represent his riding of Berthier until the next general election. There are therefore three more vacant seats in the Assembly, namely in the ridings of Lac-Saint-Jean, Joliet and Vimont.

Furthermore, the office of Speaker of the National Assembly became vacant following the appointment of Jean-Pierre Charbonneau to the Cabinet. Upon the resumption of proceedings on March 12, 2002, the Assembly will elect its new Speaker.

Following these resignations, the composition of the Assembly is as follows: Parti quebecois, 69 Members; Quebec Liberal Party, 49 Members; Action democratique du Quebec, 1 Member; for a total of 119 Members and six vacant seats.

General Secretariat of the National Assembly

Francois Cote was named Secretary General of the Assembly on December 19, 2001 following the unanimous adoption of a motion moved in the House by the Premier. Mr. Cote thus became the ninth Secretary General since 1867.

Mr. Cote, who obtained a diploma in political science from Laval University, began his career at the Assembly in 1983. Until his recent appointment, he was, since January 2001, Associate Secretary General for Parliamentary and Institutional Affairs. Prior to this, he had served in other capacities within the National Assembly, namely as Associate Secretary for Administrative Affairs, from 1991 to 1998, as Coordinator of the Secretariat of Committees, from 1985 to 1990, and as Committee Clerk. Furthermore, Mr. Cote was Assistant Secretary of the Commission on the Political and Constitutional Future of Quebec (the Belanger-Campeau Commission), in 1990 and 1991, and Assistant Secretary at the Summit on Quebec and Youth from 1998 to 2000.

He replaces Pierre Duchesne, who was Secretary General since 1985. However, Mr. Duchesne will remain at the Assembly in an advisory capacity during the next year.

Mr. Duchesne began his career at the Assembly 27 years ago, in June 1974, as Associate Secretary of the National Assembly. He became Director General of Legislative Services in January 1979, and was named Associate Secretary General in June 1983 before becoming Secretary General on December 19,1985.

In the course of his career at the Assembly and more particularly during his 15 years as Secretary General, Mr. Duchesne...