Quebec politicians return to parliament as Legault outlines 5 priorities
The Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government begins a new parliamentary session this Tuesday -- one it says it hopes will be free from "distractions."
Last year, François Legault's team stirred up discontent by raising MNA salaries by 30 per cent, resurrecting the Third Link in Quebec City and granting a subsidy to the Los Angeles Kings over the Montreal Canadiens.
The watchword in this new session is "discipline," Legault said, promising to focus on five priorities: health, education, the economy, the environment and identity.
His government says it will soon introduce two major bills to reform the construction industry and regulate energy development in Quebec.
A "tough" budget is also expected in early spring.
In the meantime, other pieces of legislation tabled last year are set to be studied in depth by parliamentary committees.
Public consultations could be held as early as Tuesday as part of the study of Bill 41 to measure the energy performance of buildings and reinforce standards.
The building sector is responsible for 10 per cent of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Quebec.
Groups will also be asked to give their opinion on Bill 42, aimed at combating psychological harassment and sexual violence in the workplace, a phenomenon that is on the rise, according to the CNESST.
In education, experts will also be asked to scrutinize Bill 47, An act to reinforce the protection of students.
Among other things, this bill is intended to close the loopholes that allow teachers to move from one position to another without their disciplinary files following them.
On the health front, elected officials will be asked to examine the delicate issue of organ donation.
One of the things they will look at is the possibility of introducing presumed consent for organ donation, meaning that instead of signing one's health insurance card to approve, one would have to do so to refuse.
A detailed study of Bill 31 on housing is also due to resume Tuesday.
Opposition parties have been highly critical of this bill, particularly because of Housing Minister France-Élaine Duranceau's desire to attack lease assignment.
In addition, as of Feb. 1, Bill 46 is expected to be studied to reinforce child safety in educational childcare services.
If adopted as is, this piece of legislation will oblige daycare owners to suspend an employee who endangers children's health.
The Ministry will also be able to close down a daycare centre that is unhealthy or whose facilities are hazardous to the safety of young children.
As of Feb. 6, consultations will be held on Bill 37 to create the position of Commissioner for Children's Welfare and Rights.
This position is a key recommendation of the Laurent Commission, which was tasked in 2019 with examining children's rights and youth protection following the death of a seven-year-old girl in Granby.
-- This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Jan. 30, 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Liberal MP says she's leaving politics over disrespectful dialogue, threats, misogyny
Liberal MP Pam Damoff says she won't run again in the next federal election, saying she has experienced misogyny, disrespectful dialogue in politics and threats to her life.
Concerns about Plexiglass prompt inspections at some Loblaws locations in Ottawa
Inspections are underway at more than one Loblaws location in Ottawa after complaints were filed about tall Plexiglass barriers.
Federal employees will be required to spend 3 days a week in the office
Starting in September, public servants in the core public administration will be required to work in the office a minimum of three days a week. The Treasury Board Secretariat says executives will need to be in the office four days per week.
OPP officer said 'someone's going to get hurt' before wrong-way Hwy. 401 crash
As multiple Durham police cruisers were chasing a robbery suspect on the wrong side of Highway 401 Monday night, an Ontario Provincial Police officer shared his concerns, telling a dispatcher, "Someone's going to get hurt."
Ont. woman who faked pregnancy to defraud doulas arrested again on similar charges
Victims of a Brantford, Ont., woman who was sentenced to house arrest earlier this year for defrauding and deceiving doulas say they’re not surprised she’s been apprehended again on similar charges.
Five human skeletons, missing hands and feet, found outside house of Nazi leader Hermann Göring
Archeologists have unearthed the skeletons of five people, missing their hands and feet, at a former Nazi military base in Poland.
Poilievre returns to House unrepentant for calling Trudeau 'wacko,' Speaker not resigning
An unrepentant Pierre Poilievre returned to the House of Commons on Wednesday to pepper the prime minister about his drug decriminalization policies after being booted the day prior for refusing to take back calling Justin Trudeau 'wacko' over his approach to the issue.
Construction begins on LGBTQ2S+ national monument in Ottawa
Shovels have hit the ground for constuction on Canada's LGBTQ2S+ national monument in Ottawa.
B.C. man awarded $5,000 in damages in first-of-it-kind intimate image case
In a first-of-its-kind case, a B.C. tribunal has ruled on a dispute involving the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, awarding damages and issuing orders that the photos be destroyed and taken offline.