National Assembly.

• Author: Turgeon, Pierre-Luc
• Position: Legislative Reports

Extraordinary sitting

On February 6, 2015, at the request of Premier Philippe Couillard, the Assembly held an extraordinary sitting to complete the examination of Bill 10, An Act to modify the organization and governance of the health and social services network, in particular by abolishing the regional agencies. This bill was passed on the following division: Yeas 62, Nays 50, no abstentions.

Composition of the National Assembly

The Member for Jean-Talon and Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports, Yves Bolduc, handed in his resignation on February 26, 2015. Francois Blais, who had been Minister of Employment and Social Solidarity, replaced Mr. Bolduc as Minister of Education, Higher Education and Research. Sam Hamad, Minister of Labour, now holds the combined offices of Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Solidarity, while Pierre Arcand, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, was named Minister responsible for the Cote-Nord region.

On March 9, 2015, Sylvain Rochon, the Parti Quebecois candidate, won the by-election in the electoral division of Richelieu.

The composition of the National Assembly now stands as follows: 69 Members of the Quebec Liberal Party, 30 Members of the Parti Quebecois, 22 Members of the Coalition Avenir Quebec, three Members under the banner of Quebec Solidaire, and one vacant riding.

Estimates of expenditure and passage of Appropriation Act No. 1, 2015-2016

On March 31, 2015, the Members concurred in Interim Supply for the year 2015-2016 and passed Bill 40, Appropriation Act No. 1, 2015-2016. During this sitting, the Assembly entered upon the debate on the budget speech.

Bills passed

For the period from January to March, the Assembly passed five bills:

Bill 10, An Act to modify the organization and governance of the health and social services network, in particular by abolishing the regional agencies;

Bill 30, An Act respecting mainly the suspension of payment of bonuses in the context of budget-balancing measures;

Bill 19, An Act to amend the Cooperatives Act and other legislative provisions;

Bill 25, An Act to transfer the responsibility for issuing road vehicle dealer's and recycler's licences to the president of the Office de la protection du consommateur;

Bill 40, Appropriation Act No. 1, 2015-2016.

Ruling from the Chair

Among the decisions rendered by the Chair, the ruling of March 19, 2015 on a point of privilege or contempt raised by the Official Opposition House Leader should be noted. In her...