Legislative Reports

Legislative Reports week, the President of the Finally on September, 28 Assembly tabled the report the President gave a ruling on from the Commission de a request to rise on a point of la représentation électorale privilege notified by the Member du Québec on the electoral for Pointe-aux-Trembles and boundaries. A debate was held on Chief Opposition Whip, Nicole this report on September 27 and Léger. She alleged that the n September 7, 2011, the day 28 as required by the Election Act. Minister of Natural Resources following the resignation and Wildlife had acted in O Rulings and directives from the contempt of Parliament when of Nathalie Normandeau, Chair Deputy Premier and Minister of she made comments regarding Natural Resources and Wildlife, Several rulings and directives the dismantlement of the Shell the Premier shuffled his Cabinet. were given by the President, refinery in east-end Montréal, Line Beauchamp, Member for Jacques Chagnon, since the by knowingly misleading the Bourassa-Sauvé, was appointed resumption of the parliamentary House and ridiculing the House. Deputy Premier, while continuing proceedings. First, at the sitting of The President stated that there to hold the office of Minister of September 20, the President ruled was nothing to suggest at first Education, Recreation and Sports. that the request for an urgent glance that the Minister acted in Sam Hamad, Member for Louis- debate made by the Member contempt of Parliament. Indeed, Hébert, was named Minister for Mercier on the facts set forth the presumption according of Economic Development, in the report from the Anti- to which a Member’s word Innovation and Export Trade. He Collusion Unit was not receivable. must always be accepted was also remains Minister responsible The President stated that this not rebutted since the former for the Capitale-Nationale region. request concerned a definite and Minister did not recognize Clément Gignac, Member for important matter involving the having deliberately misled the Marguerite-Bourgeoys, was responsibility of the Assembly. Assembly, nor did she give two named Minister of Natural However, he noted that the contradictory versions of the Resources and Wildlife and subject matter of the request same facts. could be discussed otherwise. Minister responsible for the Parliamentary Relations Northern Plan. Pierre Moreau, As this was the Assembly’s first Member for Châteauguay, was sitting day of a new sessional The President of the National named Minister of Transport. The period there would be numerous Assembly of Québec and former President of the National opportunities to debate this President of the Assemblée Assembly, Yvon Vallières, matter, particularly during end of parlementaire de la Francophonie Member for Richmond, was sitting debates and interpellations. (APF), M. Chagnon, led the th named Minister responsible for During this same sitting, the proceedings of the 37 Session Canadian Intergovernmental President gave a directive on the of the Assemblée parlementaire Affairs and the Canadian conduct of oral question period de la Francophonie in Kinshasa, Francophonie, and Minister and the allocation of control Democratic Republic of Congo, responsible for the Reform of measures and speaking times to from 6 to 8 July 2011. On Democratic Institutions and take into account the presence of this occasion, the APF heard Access to Information. six new independent Members. Abdou Diouf, Secretary General The Assembly resumed on To facilitate the allocation of of the Francophonie. Tuesday, September 20, 2011, questions among these Members, a The President of the National as provided for in the Standing new mechanism has been put into Assembly welcomed more than Orders. During the very first place: a random draw procedure. 220 participants to the activities 44 CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW/WINTER 2011 of the 11th General Assembly of of the new Parliamentary Jacques Duchesneau, head the Parliamentary Confederation Proceedings Directorate; of the Anti-Collusion Unit of of the Americas, in Québec City, Jacques Gagnon, Director of the Ministère des Transports, from September 6 to 9 2011. the Library Research Service; with regard to his report on During this general assembly, and Martin Rochefort, Special the presence of collusion in participants had the opportunity Advisor at the Research Service. the road construction industry to discuss the following themes: that was tabled in the National the reduction of child mortality, Sylvia Ford Assembly on September 22, 2011. the increase in the number of Parliamentary Proceedings Mr. Duchesneau was questioned individuals holding a high Directorate by the Committee members school diploma in the 25 and for over five hours within the over age group, the elimination Parliamentary Committees framework of this order. of the wage gap between men In recent weeks, the Committee Last August 18, the Committee and women, as well as the on Agriculture, Fisheries, Energy on Transportation and the protection of water resources. and Natural Resources has had Environment completed the Upon the conclusion of these recourse to a procedure that is clause-by-clause consideration meetings, a Final Declaration very rarely used. Indeed, within of Bill 89, An Act to amend the was adopted. This will enable the framework of an order to Environment Quality Act in parliamentarians to promote examine the policy directions, order to reinforce compliance. The their work among the national activities and management of La purpose of this bill is to reinforce and regional parliaments, civil Financière agricole du Québec, compliance with the Environment society organizations as well as the Committee had summoned Quality Act, in particular by governments. members of the board of directors introducing administrative The Annual Meeting of to a public hearing on August 22. sanctions and by increasing penal the Network of Women Since they did not come to the sanctions. The text of the bill was Parliamentarians of the Americas hearing, the Committee carried a adopted with 62 amendments. was held on the margins of the motion to subpoena the members General Assembly of the COPA. On September 15, the of the board of directors to Topics for discussion focussed Committee on Planning and appear before it. These hearings on the political participation of the Public Domain concluded were held on September 12 and women in the Americas and the its public hearings within 19, 2011. the framework of a general commitment of women toward a On September 20, 2011 the consultation on the draft bill better future. Committee on Culture and entitled Sustainable Regional and Education elected Martin Lemay, Appointments Local Land Use Planning Act. The Member for Sainte-Marie-Saint- Committee received 73 briefs On September 22, 2011, the Jacques, as its vice-chairman, within the framework of this Office of the National Assembly and the Committee on Health consultation. approved several modifications and Social Services elected made to the Administrative From September 20-22 the Marjolain Dufour, Member Organization Plan of the Committee on Agriculture, for René-Lévesque, as its vice- Assembly. The appointments Fisheries, Energy and Natural chairman. are as follows: Ariane Mignolet, Resources began public hearings Last August, the Committees Director General of the new within the framework of its Secretariat Directorate published General Directorate for Legal general consultation on the its statistical report on the and Parliamentary Affairs; green paper for an agrifood proceedings of the parliamentary René Chrétien, Special Advisor policy entitled Donner le goût du committees for the 2010-2011 to the Secretary General and Québec. The Committee received fiscal year. The report indicates, to the Director General of the an impressive number of briefs among other things, that the General Directorate for Legal – more than 190 – within the parliamentary committees held and Parliamentary Affairs; framework of this consultation. 523 sittings in 2010-2011. This is François Arsenault and On September 27, the a record number of sittings since Dominique Drouin, respectively Committee on Public Director and Assistant Director 1984. The report also mentions Administration heard the enthusiastic response to CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW/WINTER 2011 45 cyberdemocracy. Indeed, two so was Sir Oliver Mowat in the Robert C. McLeod, MLA on-line consultations were held 1890s. Also, Ontario has not had a Inuvik Twin Lakes; J. Michael during the year, for which 6,864 minority government since 1985, Miltenberger, MLA Thebacha; on-line questionnaires were which resulted in a Liberal-New and David Ramsay, MLA Kam filled. Of this number, it should Democratic Party accord. Lake were elected to serve on however be noted that 6,779 Out of 107 seats in the Cabinet. concerned the Select Committee Legislative Assembly, The First Session of the 17th on Dying with Dignity. Mr. McGuinty won 53 seats while Legislative Assembly of the Furthermore, a marked increase the Progressive Conservatives Northwest Territories opened in on-line comments has been of Tim Hudak took 37 seats and on October 27, 2011, and the noted: a total of 1,026 on-line the New Democratic Party of Members of Cabinet were sworn comments concerning several Andrea Horwath took 17 seats. in the same day. The inaugural committee orders were received. There will be 30 first-time MPPs session was adjourned on For more information on taking their seats in the House. October 28, 2011 and will resume the parliamentary committees, on December 7, 2011. please visit the Internet site of Valerie Quioc Lim The House sitting calendar the Québec National Assembly at Committee Clerk for the 2011-2012 fiscal year has www.assnat.qc.ca. been adjusted due to the general election and transition activities Valérie Roy that followed. Normally the Parliamentary Proceedings Assembly considers the capital Directorate budget during a four-week fall (October) sitting; the operations budget during a six-week spring Northwest Territories (February-March) sitting; and various other matters during a general election was held two-week summer (May-June) Aon October 3, 2011.

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