Quebec.

• Author: Bordeleau, David
• Position: Legislative Reports

Proceedings of the National Assembly of Quebec

Membership

On August 1, 2020, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, Member for Gouin, was appointed Leader of the Second Opposition Group, replacing Manon Masse, Member for Sainte-Marie-Saint-Jacques. Christine Labrie, Member for Sherbrooke, replaced Mr. Nadeau-Dubois as House Leader of the Second Opposition Group.

On August 18, 2021, Pierre Arcand, Member for Mont-Royal-Outremont, was appointed Chair of the Official Opposition Caucus in place of Frantz Benjamin, Member for Viau.

On September 1, 2021, Pierre Fitzgibbon, Member for Terrebonne, returned as Minister of Economy and Innovation. He was also appointed Minister Responsible for Regional Economic Development.

On September 9, 2021, Joel Arseneau, Member for Iles-de-la-Madeleine, was appointed Leader of the Third Opposition Group in place of Pascal Berube, Member for Matane-Matapedia.

Since June 21, 2021, Claire Samson, Member for Iberville, has been sitting under the banner of the Conservative Party of Quebec. In addition, LouisCharles Thouin, Member for Rousseau, returned to the caucus of the parliamentary group forming the Government on September 14, 2021. Consequently, the National Assembly is now composed of 75 Coalition avenir Quebec Members, 28 Quebec Liberal Party Members, 10 Quebec Solidaire Members, seven Parti Quebecois Members and five independent Members, including one affiliated with the Conservative Party of Quebec.

Terms of resumption of Assembly sittings

When the National Assembly reconvened on September 14, 2020, the parliamentarians adopted a motion establishing the rules for Assembly sittings until December 10, 2021. The motion, essential to the continuation of proceedings in the context of the pandemic, renewed most of the measures put into place since proceedings resumed in September 2020.

The measures still set out that the National Assembly sits with a reduced number of Members. However, the number of Members was increased, from 36 to 61 (not counting the Chair), who can be in Chamber at the same time, according to the following distribution:

* No more than 35 Members from the parliamentary group forming the Government;

* No more than 13 Members from the parliamentary group forming the Official Opposition;

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

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

* No more than four Independent Members.

During Routine Proceedings, the number of Government Members allowed in the Chamber was decreased to leave more space for Members in Opposition, and when Independent Members are absent, Members belonging to the parliamentary groups are entitled to fill in for them, according to a specific order.

As more Members were able to be present in Chamber, the measure providing for ministers to split into two groups to participate in Question...