Quebec.

• Author: Oullet, Carole-Anne
• Position: ASSEMBLEE NATIONALE - Quebec, Canada - Proceedings of the Legislative Assembly

At the request of the Premier Jean Charest, the Assembly held an extraordinary sitting on February 20, 2007 to permit Michel Audet, Minister of Finance, to deliver the budget speech.

The debate on the budget speech did not take place, however, since the following day the Assembly was dissolved by the Lieutenant Governor Lise Thibault at the request of the Premier of Quebec. At dissolution, the composition of the Assembly was as follows: Liberal Party, 72 Members; Parti Quebecois, 45 Members; independent Members, 6 Members, 5 of whom from the Action democratique du Quebec; 2 vacant seats.

Before dissolution, 15 Members of the National Assembly, seven of whom from the Liberal Party, seven from the Parti Quebecois and one independent Member, had already indicated that they would not run for office in the next general election.

General Election

The electoral campaign lasted 33 days with the general election taking place on March 26. For the first time, the traditional Leaders' debate, a major media event, was held at the Parliament Building, more specifically in Le Parlementaire restaurant, which was specially arranged for the occasion.

Following the election, the Quebec Liberal Party, was returned to power with the election of 48 Members, obtaining 33.08 % of the popular vote. The Action democratique du Quebec won 41 seats, with 30.80 % of the popular vote, and the Parti Quebecois had 36 of its candidates elected with 28.32 % of the votes. As regards female representation, the 38th legislature will open with 32 women Members while the 37th legislature had begun in 2003 with the presence of 38 women.

The results constitute the first minority government in Quebec since 1878. Furthermore, Mario Dumont is now the leader of the Official Opposition and shares the opposition seats with Andre Boisclair, who henceforth leads the second opposition group. Premier Charest unveiled his cabinet on Wednesday, April 18, and confirmed that proceedings would begin on May 8.

Interparliamentary Relations and Parliamentary Simulations

The second session of the Catalonia-Quebec Interparliamentary Committee was held on February 7-8 in Quebec City. This cooperation agreement provides a framework for exchanges between parliamentarians hailing from the various political groups that form both assemblies. This meeting was an opportunity to discuss the role of the regions in the European Union, the status of Catalonia and the jurisdictions of the National Assembly of Quebec. The president of the Catalonian Parliament, Ernest Benach i Pascual also had the opportunity of exchanging with the leaders of the political parties represented at the National Assembly.

From February 14-16, 2007, the Assembly hosted the 5th legislature of the Young People's Parliament, a parliamentary simulation for Secondary 3 and 4 students. Hailing from twenty-nine public and private high schools located throughout Quebec, the 143 participants played the roles of Members, parliamentary officers, journalists and press secretaries.

This edition allowed these young people to examine three bills addressing issues that reflect their concerns: security in schools, school success and the protection of the environment. A parliamentary committee also carried out an order of initiative on racism in Quebec. At the conclusion of the simulation, only one bill was adopted, namely the Act fostering the involvement of students from Quebec schools in the improvement of the quality of the environment.

Other News

On March 20, 2007 Raynald Frechette, former Member for Sherbrooke from 1966 to 1970 and from 1981 to 1985, passed away at the age of 73. During his first term representing the Union nationale, he was vice-president and...