PQ calling on other parties to support Conservatives, restore democratic balance
The Parti Québécois (PQ) has agreed to the three demands made by Conservative Party of Quebec (PCQ) leader Éric Duhaime, who is seeking access to the national assembly for his party.
In the last general election, the Conservative Party won the support of 530,786 voters and 12.91 per cent of all valid ballots, according to Elections Quebec, but did not get any of its candidates elected.
Québec solidaire (QS) received 15.43 per cent of the vote and had 11 candidates elected. The PQ, which has three MNAs, received 14.61 per cent of the vote, while the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ), with 14.37 per cent of the vote, elected 21 of its candidates.
Since the Conservatives have no MNAs, Duhaime wrote a letter asking that his party be allowed to hold news conferences at the national assembly, have access to an office, and have access to in-camera sessions.
In a news release supporting the Conservative demands, PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon wrote that if a party gets 13 per cent of the vote, it deserves to have at least one forum to be heard in the national assembly. He added that the Conservative Party's demands cost nothing in public funds.
St-Pierre Plamondon feels that the current voting system has caused an unprecedented distortion in the composition of the national assembly, and everything must be done to restore some democratic balance.
He criticized the fact that some political parties have recently shown little appetite for a real democratic rebalancing. The PLQ, the CAQ and QS have only sought to reform the method of allocating resources because it benefits them, according to him.
He is calling on the other leaders, Premier François Legault of the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ), Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois of QS and Marc Tanguay of the PLQ, to support the Conservative Party's demands.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Nov. 28, 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests about relationship with Prince Harry
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Ontario man devastated to learn $150,000 line of credit isn't insured after wife dies
An Ontario man found out that a line of credit he thought was insured actually isn't after his wife of 50 years died.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they're now named Scouting America
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.
New Canadian study could be a lifesaver for thousands suffering from CTE
A first-of-its-kind Canadian research study is working towards a major medical breakthrough for a brain disorder, believed to be caused by repeated head injuries, that can only be detected after death.
Rape, terror and death at sea: How a boat carrying Rohingya children, women and men capsized
In March, Indonesian officials and local fishermen rescued 75 people from the overturned hull of a boat off the coast of Indonesia. Until now, little was known about why the boat capsized.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
These adults born in the '90s partnered with their parents to buy homes in Ontario
An Ontario woman said it would have been impossible to buy a house without her mother – an anecdote that animates the fact that over 17 per cent of Canadian homeowners born in the ‘90s own their property with their parents, according to a new report.
For their protection, immigrants critical of China and India call for speedy passage of Canada's foreign interference legislation
Canadian immigrants threatened by hostile regimes are urging parliamentarians to quickly pass the 'Countering Foreign Interference Act' so they can feel safe living in their adopted home.