After a relatively quiet summer, the political news in Québec has been hectic in recent weeks, particularly with the resumption of parliamentary proceedings at the National Assembly. As usual, today our team presents the issues that marked the resumption of hostilities in Québec City. Happy reading!
CAQ: right leaning MNA quits party
In a decidedly hectic first week of parliamentary proceedings, Youri Chassin, the CAQ MNA for Saint-Jérôme associated with the CAQs’ right wing, issued a hard-hitting open letter strongly criticizing the record $11-billion deficit generated by his own government. Yassin accuses the Legault government of having lost the audacity to opt for courageous solutions. The MNA then announced that he was leaving the CAQ caucus and would sit as an independent going forward.
Resignation of Super Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon
On the eve of the CAQ caucus in Rimouski, Pierre Fitzgibbon, super minister of the Economy, Innovation and Energy, dropped a bombshell, announcing his resignation in front of the press. The Legault government's most influential minister ascribed his departure to a loss of motivation. Behind the scenes, there were whispers that the super minister was dissatisfied with certain adjustments made to his vast energy reform bill, which was due to begin its committee study a few days later.
Christine Fréchette, new super minister of Economy and Energy
Christine Fréchette will replace resigning minister Pierre Fitzgibbon as Minister of the Economy, Innovation and Energy. Previously Minister of Immigration, Christine Fréchette is recognized as an experienced politician, discreet yet effective. In her former role, she skilfully avoided the pitfalls of an issue that has long been the CAQ's Achilles' heel. Jean-François Roberge, Minister responsible for the French Language and Canadian Relations, will inherit her former duties at Immigration.
The Parti Québécois launches its by-election campaign in Terrebonne
The Parti Québécois has wasted no time in officially launching its campaign for the by-election in Terrebonne, which will have to be held to replace resigning minister and MNA Pierre Fitzgibbon. By law, the government must call such an election within six months. After a first defeat at the hands of the Parti Québécois in Jean-Talon, it's safe to assume that the CAQ will want to do everything in their power to keep the Terrebonne riding. Polls currently show the PQ leading by a healthy margin.
Energy reform: study of the bill begins
Committee study of the long-awaited energy reform bill (Bill 69) got underway in Québec City. In the absence of the bill's author, Pierre Fitzgibbon, new minister Christine Fréchette stepped in at short notice to replace him at the parliamentary committee. From the outset, the opposition strongly criticized the legislation, some even accusing the former minister of having made a mess of Québec's energy resources before leaving in a hurry. One question seems to be gaining importance in this debate: who will pay for Québec's desired energy transition?
Electricity sales: Michael Sabia at odds with François Legault
It was probably the highlight of the first week of study of the energy reform bill. In a speech to the parliamentary committee that surprised many observers, Hydro-Québec CEO Michael Sabia criticized the government's past energy choices. In particular, he disapproved of the government awarding energy blocks to foreign multinationals, to the detriment of local companies struggling to decarbonize. This statement, which seems to vindicate the opposition, is sure to fuel parliamentary debate over the coming weeks.
Parliamentary committees get off to a flying start
In addition to energy reform, the CAQ took advantage of the new parliamentary session to restart work on several pieces of legislation. Among them: a bill to reduce administrative paperwork for doctors, another to strengthen the health protection of farm animals, one to improve the government’s follow-up for people declared not criminally responsible, and one on cultural security in the health network. The CAQ also took the opportunity to initiate the study of another major bill, which provides for the creation of a new agency dedicated to transportation projects, Mobilité Infra Québec.
Back to Parliament: Legault will continue to keep a low profile
While the opposition will be taking advantage of the new political season to score points in the public arena, François Legault will be trying to keep a low profile. In the Premier’s entourage, the strategy deployed in recent months to reduce media exposure seems to be bearing fruit, as evidenced by a slight upturn in the most recent polls. The CAQ strategists are also aware that the political media space is likely to be saturated this fall, with the U.S. presidential election, and now the spectre of an early federal election.
Movement in the Liberal leadership race
The Québec Liberal Party's long-dormant leadership race is undergoing its first twists and turns: the media have revealed that one of the main candidates, former Montreal mayor Denis Coderre, owes over $160,000 to the Québec tax authorities. Justin Trudeau's Québec political lieutenant, Pablo Rodriguez, continues to test the waters, not ruling out entering the race. One of the long-anticipated candidates, and one of the only ones from Québec's regions, Victoriaville mayor Antoine Tardif, has finally ruled out a run.
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