MONTREAL -- The parliamentary committee on health and social services is holding public hearings, starting Thursday in person and by videoconference at the National Assembly, on the mandatory COVID-19 vaccination of health care workers, educators and more.

During the two days of hearings, 18 stakeholders are expected to present their positions, including Health Minister Christian Dubé and Quebec Director of Public Health Dr. Horacio Arruda.

The health care community will be represented at the hearings by the Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec (FIQ), which represents nurses, the Fédération de la santé et des services sociaux de la CSN, the Fédération des médecins spécialistes du Québec (FMSQ) and the Fédération des médecins omnipraticiens du Québec (FMOQ), as well as by the Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique de la santé et des services sociaux.

The education and child care sectors will be represented by the Fédération autonome de l'enseignement (FAE), the Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ), the Fédération des cégeps, the Bureau de coopération interuniversitaire, the Association québécoise des centers de la petite enfance and the Association des garderies non subventionnées en installation.

A few other expert organizations are also expected to be heard.

Last week, Premier François Legault announced that his government wants to make vaccination against COVID-19 mandatory for all those working in the health sector who are in contact with patients for more than 15 minutes.

However, he indicated that a parliamentary commission was necessary beforehand as the government's decision involves a person's physical integrity and their right to work.

The commission is also expected to address the issue of penalties for those who do not comply with the vaccination.

CONSERVATIVE LEADER ERIC DUHAIME EXPELLED FROM COMMITTEE

Quebec Conservative Party leader Eric Duhaime was expelled from a parliamentary commission on the mandatory vaccination of health care workers.

In a press scrum following his expulsion from the premises, Duhaime claimed his removal was a political gesture orchestrated by the four parties represented in the National Assembly.

He made it a personal issue, attacking the Legault government in particular.

"They are attacking me. Why? It's because we bother them. In a way, I should be happy today because what they are saying is that the Conservative Party, politically, doesn't bother them," said Duhaime.

In fact, to justify his expulsion from the Pauline-Marois room, where the committee proceedings are being held, a member of the National Assembly staff explained to him that the political parties had agreed not to accept in the committee rooms people who were not employees of a political office of a member of the assembly, in order to limit the number of people in a room at the same time due to the health crisis.

Duhaime was present in the National Assembly to accompany the MNA for Iberville, Claire Samson, who was elected under the banner of the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ), but who recently switched to the Conservative Party. According to the rules in effect, Duhaime is not an employee of the MNA and cannot accompany her to committee.

From the outset, Duhaime's presence on the premises delayed the start of the proceedings by several minutes. It created unease among parliamentarians and forced the committee chair, CAQ MNA Luc Provençal, to assess the situation before ordering the Conservative leader's expulsion.

Meanwhile, sitting next to Duhaime, Health Minister Christian Dubé had to be patient, as he was unable to start the committee's work around 9:30 a.m. as planned and answer questions from elected officials until the issue was resolved.

Before agreeing to leave the room, the Conservative leader asked the assembly staff for an explanation, which he received.

Duhaime immediately expressed his indignation to reporters outside the room.

Known for his opposition to public health measures, Duhaime took the opportunity to make an outburst against the very existence of the parliamentary commission — "a front commission," according to him, in the image of the "undemocratic deviation" of the Legault government.

-- This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Aug. 26, 2021.