In Québec, summer is well underway: many politicians and journalists are taking a well-deserved break, and the media pace is slowing down as a result. But don't worry: the Québec Now team hasn't let its guard down and, as usual, we bring you the latest political news from across the province.
New Trudeau-Legault meeting on immigration
In early June, Prime Minister François Legault welcomed his federal counterpart Justin Trudeau to Québec City to continue their thorny discussions on immigration management. During the meeting, the federal government agreed to Québec's request for $750 million to cover the costs of managing asylum seekers between 2021 and 2023. François Legault took the opportunity to call for a 50% drop in the number of asylum seekers within a year, claiming that Québec's housing crisis was directly caused by temporary immigration.
Bill 21 - Recusal from Supreme Court Justice Jamal
In a significant development in Québec's ongoing debate over secularism, Supreme Court Justice Mahmud Jamal has recused himself from the deliberations on the province's controversial secularism law. Notably, Justice Jamal was the chair of the board of directors of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association when it filed a legal challenge against Bill 21. Justice Jamal's decision underscores the complexities and sensitivities surrounding Bill 21, which prohibits public servants in positions of authority from wearing religious symbols at work. This law has sparked intense discussions about religious freedom and the separation of church and state nationwide.
A new committee to increase Québec's autonomy
In the wake of the parliamentary session’s end, the Québec government launched a new "advisory committee on Québec's constitutional issues within the Canadian federation". This committee, made up of a half-dozen experts of various stripes, will be tasked with identifying new powers that Québec could exercise, in keeping with the Canadian constitution. The CAQ government seems to be drawing inspiration from the formula used when Bill 96 on the French language was passed, which allowed Québec to unilaterally enshrine recognition of the Québec nation in the Constitution.
A third link to ensure "economic security”
The government-commissioned report on inter-city mobility in the Capitale-Nationale region has been made public. Unsurprisingly, it confirms that a third highway link between Québec City and Lévis would not be justified, based on current and future traffic levels. The report's authors point out, however, that only one bridge currently allows the passage of heavy trucks, and that a new link could strengthen the region's economic security. François Legault was quick to take up this argument, announcing that he would give the green light to a possible project.
Québec's deficit continues to grow
While the most recent budget forecast a deficit of $6.3 billion for the 2023-2024 fiscal year, it will instead be $7.5 billion. According to the Ministry of Finance, this deficit is attributable to a drop in government revenues, itself caused by a slowdown in spending by Québec consumers. This is bad news for the CAQ government, which is seeing its financial leeway shrink even further.
Pro-Palestinian encampment movement runs out of steam
In early July, the pro-Palestinian encampment in Montreal's Victoria Square was dismantled after the Minister of Public Security criticized the passivity of the Montreal authorities. This followed the dismantling of encampments on the McGill University and Université Sherbrooke campuses. The encampment movement seems to be fading, at least in la Belle province.
Acceleration of Highway 50 widening requested
In the last few days, the Québec government has announced new measures to make Highway 50 safer. This strategic but dangerous highway links the Laurentians and the Outaouais, and by the same token, Québec to its neighbour Ontario. These safety measures, however, appear insufficient in the eyes of some, notably the provincial Liberals. The Liberals are instead calling for an acceleration of the promised expansion of the highway, on which work is not expected to be completed before 2032.
New agreements in Québec's public sector
The Québec government is taking advantage of the summer break to relaunch negotiations with the public service unions with which it had not yet reached agreement. At the beginning of June, it had already reached agreement with the 20,000 civil servants represented by the Syndicat de la fonction publique et parapublique du Québec. More recently, it also reached agreement with provincial police officers on a substantial pay raise. Will Québec finally reach an agreement with the Fédération des infirmières du Québec, which represents more than 80,000 healthcare professionals? Stay tuned!
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