The Final Legislative Stretch Before the Election

That’s it: in Québec, the final parliamentary session before the general election has concluded. MNAs are returning to their ridings to prepare for the election campaign, which is expected to officially launch in a matter of weeks. What has defined the final stretch of the CAQ’s second mandate? In this month’s issue of Québec Now, our team offers you a concise overview of the latest political developments in the province.

A last-minute bill on energy drinks passes

In recent weeks, the tragic story of parents mourning the loss of their son, who died following a drug interaction linked to the consumption of an energy drink, has deeply moved Quebecers. In response, Christine Fréchette swiftly revived an old CAQ promise by tabling a bill to ban the sale of these products to anyone under the age of 16, with near-unanimous support from opposition parties. After initially opposing the measure, the Conservative Party of Québec ultimately reversed its position in the face of widespread criticism.

Is Christine Fréchette’s honeymoon over?

After an almost flawless debut, the Premier is now facing mounting political pressure. During the study of budget estimates, several ministers stumbled under attacks from opposition parties: some inadvertently reopened the referendum debate that the CAQ had carefully avoided, by taking positions in either the Yes or No camps. Meanwhile, the Minister of Health faced sharp criticism over problems with the rollout of the Digital Health Record (DHR). The Premier herself was not spared--pressed by the opposition, she admitted being unaware of an imminent tax increase decided by the previous government, in which she served, before being unable to confidently state the amount of Québec’s debt.

Fréchette keeps a promise and announces affordability measures

The Premier recently announced a series of measures aimed at easing the financial burden on Quebecers, including eliminating the QST on certain basic grocery items, reducing vehicle registration fees, and providing a $200 cheque for groceries and energy for low-income individuals. The total cost of these measures, as promised by Fréchette, is estimated at $682 million. The move was denounced not only by the opposition – which accused the CAQ of handing out goodies just months before the election campaign – but also by several economists – including the Finance Minister himself – who described them as costly spending measures in an already difficult fiscal reality.

Legislative check-in: bills adopted, others left to die

Eager to give the CAQ renewed momentum before the campaign begins, Christine Fréchette launched several legislative initiatives. Some were successfully adopted, while others will be dropped, at least for now.

• Québec Constitution: This bill is near and dear to Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette, but strongly opposed by other parties. In the absence of consensus, Christine Fréchette refused to force its adoption. The Constitution issue will therefore have to wait until after the election, if the CAQ is re-elected.

  
  

• Redrawing the electoral map: Despite opposition from an independent MNA who sought to delay its adoption, as well as objections from the Chief Electoral Officer arguing that adding two ridings was unjustified, the political parties in the National Assembly managed to pass the bill. Quebecers will therefore elect two more MNAs in the next election, for a total of 127.

  
  

• Clare’s Law: Thanks to broad consensus among political parties, this law allowing women to check their partner’s criminal history was adopted swiftly before the end of parliamentary proceedings.

  
  

• Projects of national importance: Due to a lack of cooperation from Québec solidaire, this bill inherited from the Legault era, aimed at accelerating economic projects, could not be adopted and will therefore die on the order paper.

  
  

• Ticket resale: This bill seeks to ban abusive practices in the resale of tickets for cultural and sporting events. It ultimately managed to cross the finish line.

  
  

• Regulatory relief: Despite a new minister overseeing the portfolio, the bill was ultimately passed. Presented as a measure to reduce the administrative burden on businesses, it included several targeted measures, notably for the forestry industry and the sale of alcoholic beverages. Its adoption allows the government to claim a concrete win on regulatory simplification, even if its scope remains largely sector-specific.

  
  

• Carbon storage: Tabled in February, this bill aimed to establish a legislative framework for carbon storage in Québec, similar to frameworks in other provinces. After delaying its study, the government rewrote the bill substantially to limit its scope to the authorization of pilot projects. This narrower version was adopted in the National Assembly. The creation of a robust legislative framework will therefore have to wait until after the election.