Friday was the final last day of the spring session at the National Assembly. The MNAs are heading off to work in their ridings for the summer. A lot has happened since February. Here’s a recap:
The Liberals table a balanced budget with no new taxes in March. Premier Philippe Couillard said there was no way to do that without big cuts in health care and education. Those announced cuts have had a lasting impact, prompting protests from everyone from students to teachers to nurses.
After almost a year-long campaign, Pierre Karl Peladeau emerges as the 12th leader in Parti Quebecois history, winning on the first ballot against opponents Alexandre Cloutier and Martine Ouellet.
The PQ’s new leader keeps the focus on the sovereignty debate, for the most part. On the session's final day, Peladeau says the Liberals' focus on cutting is damaging the economy. The opposition leader wants more economic stimulus.
The arrival of Peladeau hurts the CAQ. Leader Francois Legault says it caused the party to lose its stronghold in the Chauveau riding to the Liberals in Monday's byelection. Legault said he is confident people will eventually realize the Liberals have run out of new ideas.
Then-education minister Yves Bolduc quits politics after being involved in a number of controversies, including declarating publicly that strip searches of high school students were reasonable and that students "won't die" if they don't have library books.
Francois Blais, promoted to the education portfolio after Bolduc’s resignation, confirms school board elections will be abolished last month. Ministry officials said the commissioners elected last year could be replaced by next summer.
The Liberals' Bill 10, which tackles bureaucracy in the health care system, is passed. In May, Health Minister Gaetan Barrette and the federation of general practitioners reach a deal in relation to the province’s plan to improve access to health care that will exempt GPs from the quotas outlined in Bill 20 if 85 per cent of Quebecers have a family doctor by 201
Peladeau's Quebecor shares are the de facto focus of ethics committee hearings. A National Assembly committee held two days of hearings to review the code of ethics for MNAs. A report tabled by the commissioner of ethics with recommendations on how to improve the code included two suggestions on dealing with an MNA's ownership of media interests and potential conflicts of interest, issues that would pertain directly to Peladeau's situation.
Secular values, the Liberal way: Quebec tables new legislation that aims to ban face-covering veils among civil servants and those using public services.
On the last day of the session, the Liberals confirm they will change Bill 101 to make stores add French descriptors to their names. Premier Philippe Couillard said it’s a question of “politeness,” giving the example of Second Cup which goes by “Les cafes Second Cup” in Quebec. "Everyone knows that they sell coffee, but it's like this company said, 'I know where I am, I know what environment I am and recognize the existence of the French in Quebec."
