Quebec.

• Author: Bolduc, Nicole
• Position: Legislative Reports

National Assembly Proceedings

Extraordinary sitting

On Friday, December 9, 2016, at the end of the period set aside for extended hours of meeting, the Assembly held an extraordinary sitting to complete the examination of Bill 106, An Act to implement the 2030 Energy Policy and to amend various legislative provisions. The Bill was passed the next morning on the following division: Yeas 62, nays 38, abstentions 0.

Composition of the National Assembly

On October 14, 2016, Jean-Francois Lisee, Leader of the Official Opposition, made the following appointments: Pascal Berube, Member for Matane-Matapedia, as Official Opposition House Leader, Carole Poirier, Member for Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, as Chief Official Opposition Whip, Sylvain Rochon, Member for Richelieu, as Deputy Opposition House Leader, and since October 16, 2016, Maka Kotto, Member for Bourget, as Chair of the Official Opposition Caucus.

On October 25, 2016, Marc Tanguay, Member for LaFontaine, was named Deputy Government House Leader, to replace Gerry Sklavounos, Member for Laurier-Dorion, who, since October 20, 2016, has been sitting as an Independent Member.

The following persons were elected in the four by-elections held on December 5, 2016: Marc Bourcier, Parti Quebecois candidate in the electoral division of Saint-Jerome, Eric Lefebvre, Coalition Avenir Quebec candidate in the electoral division of Arthabaska, Isabelle Melangon, Quebec Liberal Party candidate in the electoral division of Verdun, and Catherine Fournier, Parti Quebecois candidate in the electoral division of Marie-Victorin. Ms. Fournier, at 24 years of age, became the youngest woman in Quebec's history to be elected to the National Assembly.

The composition of the Assembly now stands as follows: Quebec Liberal Party, 70 Members; Parti Quebecois, 30 Members; Coalition Avenir Quebec, 21 Members; and four Independent Members, three of whom sit under the Quebec Solidaire banner.

Bills passed

From October to December 2016, the Assembly passed 12 Government bills, two private bills and one private Member's public bill. Of particular note are the following:

* Bill 70--An Act to allow a better match between training and jobs and to facilitate labour market entry.

* Bill 87--An Act to facilitate the disclosure of wrongdoings relating to public bodies (modified title).

* Bill 106--An Act to implement the 2030 Energy Policy and to amend various legislative provisions.

* Bill 109--An Act to grant Ville de Quebec national capital status and increase its autonomy and powers.

* Bill 125--An Act to amend the Courts of Justice Act.

* Bill 693--An Act to amend the Act respecting the governance of state-owned enterprises to promote the presence of young people on the boards of directors of such enterprises.

Tribute to Frangois Gendron, Member for Abitibi-Ouest

On November 15, 2016, within the framework of a motion moved by the Leader of the Official Opposition, the Assembly underlined the 40 years of parliamentary life of Francois Gendron, Member for Abitibi-Ouest (Parti Quebecois). The last of the Members elected in the general election of November 15,1976, Mr. Gendron held various ministerial positions during his political career and also held the offices of Deputy Premier, interim Leader of his political party and President of the National Assembly. To this day, he holds the record for the longest continuous term as Member at the National Assembly. Since May 20, 2014, Mr. Gendron has held the office of Third Vice-President.

Special Events

Seminar on the diversity of cultural expressions in the digital age

On November 1,2016, the National Assembly hosted a seminar on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions in the Digital Age. This exchange between elected representatives of La Francophonie and experts of the cultural community provided an opportunity to take stock of progress on the implementation of the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural adopted in 2005 by UNESCO.

Creation of the Massachusetts-Quebec Collaborative Research Council

The creation of a collaborative research council aimed at promoting cooperation between Quebec and Massachusetts was announced on December 5, 2016 by Jacques Chagnon, President of the National Assembly, together with Stanley Rosenberg, President of the Massachusetts Senate. This new organization, which reflects a strong consensus between the representatives of the legislative, entrepreneurial and research sectors, will showcase Quebec universities, particularly in the clean energy, electric transport, environment and biotechnology sectors.

Statement and Ruling from the Chair

The statement from the Chair made on November 15,2016 followed up on the behaviour of two Members who, after having voted against the passage of a bill during a recorded division, turned their backs to the Assembly. The President indicated that a recorded division is a solemn event of a sacred nature that must not be distorted. The President further stated that what occurred during this recorded division goes against the principles that are the cornerstones of our democracy and constitutes an unjustified violation of decorum, an insult to parliamentarians and to the institution. Lastly, the Chair indicated that it will never condone such behaviour.

On...