Quebec.

AuthorLabbe, Stephanie
PositionLegislative Reports

Proceedings of the National Assembly of Quebec

Membership

On April 12, 2021, Denis Tardif, Member for Riviere-du-Loup-Temiscouata, returned to the caucus of the parliamentary group forming the Government.

On May 5, 2021, Marie-Eve Proulx, Minister for Economic Development and Member for Cote-duSud, resigned from Cabinet.

On June 2, 2021, Pierre Fitzgibbon, Member for Terrebonne, resigned as Minister of Economy and Innovation. Eric Girard, current Minister of Finance and Member for Groulx, has taken over his responsibilities.

Since June 4, 2021, Sylvain Roy, Member for Bonaventure, has been sitting as an Independent Member. Similarly, Claire Samson, Member for Iberville, has been sitting as an Independent Member since June 15, 2021. Consequently, the National Assembly is now composed of 74 Coalition avenir Quebec Members, 28 Quebec Liberal Party Members, 10 Quebec solidaire Members, seven Parti quebecois Members and six Independent Members.

Terms for the continuation of Assembly proceedings

In keeping with the six previous motions adopted since the start of the pandemic in the spring of 2020, the parliamentarians adopted a motion on April 13, 2021, concerning the renewal of all COVID-19related measures for ordinary hours of meeting from April 12 to May 14, 2021, which also included terms for the consideration of the budget estimates. On May 25, 2021, a final motion on the renewal of all such measures was adopted for the last three weeks of proceedings, including extended hours of meeting from June 1 to June 11, the date of adjournment of proceedings for the summer period. The measures, which had been in effect since the resumption of proceedings in September 2020, were essentially put in place to ensure the safety of all during the pandemic. It should be noted that the measures were adjusted over the months, in compliance with public health directives.

Note that the above measures included the presence of 36 MNAs in the House, excluding the Chair, in order to allow more Opposition Members to be present during Routine Proceedings. The distribution was as follows:

* No more than 20 Members from the parliamentary group forming the Government;

* No more than eight Members from the parliamentary group forming the Official Opposition;

* No more than three Members from the Second Opposition Group;

* No more than three Members from the Third Opposition Group;

* No more than two independent Members.

The motions carried also enabled the renewal of several other terms, such as ensuring quorum for Tuesday morning sittings, set at seven Members from the parliamentary group forming the Government, three Members from the parliamentary group forming the Official Opposition, one Member from the Second Opposition Group and one Member from the Third Opposition Group. Parliamentarians were also given permission to take the floor and vote from seats that were not the ones usually assigned to them. In addition, the ministers were divided into two groups for the purposes of Oral Questions and Answers. One group participated in Tuesday and Thursday sittings, while the other participated in Wednesday sittings and, during periods of extended hours of meeting, Friday sittings. To that end, the Government House Leader communicated to the opposition groups, not later than 6:00 p.m. on the evening preceding a sitting, a preliminary list of the ministers who would be present during Oral Questions and Answers the following day.

Moreover, the previously adopted procedure for recorded divisions was maintained. Under that measure, the vote of the House Leader or of the Deputy House Leader of a parliamentary group or, where applicable, of another Member identified beforehand was valid for all the Members of his or her group. However, parliamentarians were entitled to individually record a vote that differed from the vote of their group or to choose not to vote. In addition, if an independent Member was absent, the Government House Leader was authorized to record the Member's vote regarding a stage in the consideration of a bill according to the prior instructions sent by the absent Member to the Government House Leader.

In compliance with public health rules, procedure masks were to be worn at all times during Assembly sittings and parliamentary committee meetings, except when taking the floor during proceedings.

In order for MNAs to comply with the curfew ordered by the Government, the Assembly's modified sitting schedule was also maintained for the last week of regular hours of meeting between May 25 and 27, 2021. Once the curfew was lifted throughout Quebec on May 28, 2021, MNAs were able to sit according to the schedule set out in the Standing Orders for extended hours of meeting.

Bills introduced and passed

From April to July 2021, 24 public bills were introduced in the National Assembly, including 13 private Members' bills. During the same period, 14 government bills and four private bills were passed in the National Assembly. The following are some of the bills passed:

* Bill 60, An Act to amend the Public Service Act and other provisions

* Bill 78, An Act mainly to improve the transparency of enterprises

* Bill 79, An Act to authorize the communication of personal information to the families of Indigenous children who went missing or died after being admitted to an institution

* Bill 83, An Act respecting mainly the health insurance plan and prescription drug insurance plan eligibility of certain children whose parents' migratory status is precarious and amending the Act respecting end-of-life care (amended title)

* Bill 84, An Act to assist persons who are victims of criminal offences and to facilitate their recovery

* Bill 86, An Act respecting the demise of the Crown

* Bill 95, An Act to amend the Act respecting the governance and management of the information resources of...

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