Quebec.

AuthorFord, Sylvia
PositionLegislative Reports

Proceedings of the National Assembly

Composition of the Assembly

On March 11, 2019, the Member for Marie-Victorin, Catherine Fournier, announced her decision to leave the Parti quebecois caucus, which at the time formed the Second Opposition Group, to sit as an independent Member. Since then, the composition of the National Assembly has been as follows: Coalition avenir Quebec, 75 Members; Quebec Liberal Party, 29 Members; Quebec solidaire, 10 Members; Parti quebecois, nine Members; and two independent Members.

Legislative agenda

Since proceedings resumed on February 5, nine government bills have been introduced, including:

* Bill 5--An Act to amend the Education Act and other provisions regarding preschool education services for students 4 years of age

* Bill 6--An Act to transfer responsibility for the registry of lobbyists to the Lobbyists Commissioner and to implement the Charbonneau Commission recommendation on the prescription period for bringing penal proceedings

* Bill 9--An Act to increase Quebec's socio-economic prosperity and

adequately meet labour market needs through successful immigrant integration

* Bill 10--An Act to amend the Pay Equity Act mainly to improve the pay equity audit process

Rulings from the Chair

February 5, 2019--Dress code for Members participating in parliamentary proceedings.

Parliaments are places where tradition is sometimes more prominent than elsewhere. Their functioning is bound by rules, customs and practices that have been honed over time to ensure the orderly conduct of their proceedings.

In the National Assembly, the Members debate issues of vital importance for Quebecers. It is therefore essential that ideas take precedence over other considerations, hence the importance of having a framework that gives all Members the opportunity to express themselves. This is why the Chair believes that any change to this framework must be approached carefully.

Traditionally, there have been no written rules dictating members' attire. Only Standing Order 32 sets out a general obligation for Members to keep order and decorum in the Assembly and refrain from any course of action that might disrupt the orderly conduct of its proceedings or infringe on another Member's freedom of speech. The Chair has already indicated that Members must avoid wearing clothes or accessories that could jeopardize another Member's freedom of speech or undermine the Assembly's decorum.

Despite the absence of a clear dress code, the standard observed for many years in the context of parliamentary debates in the National Assembly has been that of so-called "business attire". In practice, during parliamentary proceedings, men are expected to wear a jacket and tie, and women, appropriate businesslike attire.

The Chair recognizes that, for some people, clothing is a way of defining themselves, an intrinsic part of their identity and personality. In this regard, Members have always enjoyed a certain leeway in how they dress. However, as is the case in other assemblies, one's attire cannot constitute a means of expression that circumvents the framework established by the Standing Orders.

A parliament is a unique venue, where debates allow differing and oftentimes diverging points of view to be voiced. Some form of framework is required to allow all Members to express themselves in a manner that is respectful of others. This arena, which inspires the collective imagination, is conducive to rituals and symbols, which play an important role within it.

This does not mean that parliaments are immune to change. Quite the contrary: it is desirable that they evolve with the societies they represent. While Parliament's transformation may be slow, the institution is of critical importance in a democratic society and, consequently, must adapt to contexts that are constantly evolving.

Although dress is not central to a parliament, it nonetheless reflects the demographics that make up the Assembly and the trends and nuances each person brings to it, underscores a certain individuality and can be considered a form of expression. Because of its nature and role, the Assembly must provide a framework that is flexible enough to allow each Member to exercise his or her duties as a representative, firm enough to regulate conflicts...

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