Quebec.

• Author: Durepos, Catherine
• Position: Legislative Reports

Proceedings of the National Assembly of Quebec

Extraordinary Sittings

At the request of Premier Francois Legault, the Assembly met for extraordinary sittings on Saturday, June 15 and Sunday, June 16,2019. The purpose of these sittings was to finish examining the following two hills under closure: Bill 9, An Act to increase Quebec's socioeconomic prosperity and adequately meet labour market needs through successful immigrant integration, and Bill 21, An Act respecting the laicity of the State. The bills were passed, respectively, by the following margins: Yeas 62, Nays 42, Abstentions 0; and Yeas 73, Nays 35, Abstentions 0.

Budget estimates and passage of Appropriation Act No. 2, 2019-2020

On April 9, 2019, the Budget Speech came to an end once voting on the Government's budgetary policy, and on the motions stating a grievance with regard to it, had been completed. On May 7, 2019, after examination of the estimates in committee, the Assembly met in a Committee of the Whole to consider the Assembly's estimates. On May 9, 2019, the appropriations for 2019-2020 were adopted and Appropriation Act No. 2, 2019-2020 was passed.

Bills Passed

From April to June, 2019, the Assembly passed 16 bills, of which four were private bills. Seven of the bills--the four private ones and three others--were passed unanimously. Of all the bills passed during this time, the following are noteworthy:

Bill 1, An Act to amend the rules governing the appointment and dismissal of the Anti-Corruption Commissioner, the Director General of the Surete du Quebec and the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions;

Bill 3, An Act to establish a single school tax rate;

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 7, An Act respecting certain terms of employment applicable to officers of the health and social services network;

Bill 10, An Act to amend the Pay Equity Act mainly to improve the pay equity audit process;

Bill 12, An Act to clarify the scope of the right to free education and to allow the regulation of certain financial contributions that may be required;

Bill 13, An Act to amend the Taxation Act, the Act respecting the Quebec sales tax and other legislative provisions;

Bill 19, An Act to amend the Act respecting the conditions of employment and the pension plan of the Members of the National Assembly following the adoption of certain fiscal measures by the Parliament of Canada; and

Bill 26, An Act respecting the Reseau structurant de transport en commun de la Ville de Quebec.

Ruling from the Chair

On May 29, 2019, the President issued a directive on a question raised by the Member for Chomedey as to whether parliamentary privileges applied to written...