PQ barred from Quebec legislature as Legault reiterates plan to abolish oath requirement
PQ barred from Quebec legislature as Legault reiterates plan to abolish oath requirement
Quebec City -
The drama playing out in Quebec's capital over the Parti Quebecois's refusal to swear the oath of office to the King reached its climax Thursday, as the three elected members of the party were barred from taking their seats in the legislature.
PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon and the two other members of his caucus were followed by journalists up to the doors of the legislative chamber -- known as the Blue Room -- and were blocked from entering by the sergeant-at-arms.
St-Pierre Plamondon intends on maintaining pressure to abolish oath to King at National Assembly
Inside the chamber, Speaker Nathalie Roy told the other members -- all of whom swore allegiance to King Charles III after the Oct. 3 provincial election -- that her decision to forbid the PQ from entering was final and could not be appealed.
"I hope that this decision will put an end to the debate on the consequences of not taking the oath of allegiance, and that the members who have chosen not to take it will govern themselves accordingly," Roy said.
To sit, elected Quebec members must take two oaths of loyalty: one to the Quebec people and another -- as required by the Canadian Constitution -- to the King. Roy said the Speaker cannot unilaterally change the rules, adding that it will take a law adopted by the legislature to modify the oath of office.
Quebec Premier Francois Legault told reporters earlier in the day that his government would table a motion next week to abolish the oath to the King. And Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, spokesman for Quebec solidaire, said his party tabled a motion Thursday to make that oath optional.
Quebec's 43rd legislative session opened on Tuesday with the election of Roy as Speaker, followed by Wednesday's inaugural speech by Legault, whose Coalition Avenir Quebec won a large majority in October. The legislature will break for the holidays Dec. 9.
The PQ was reduced to three seats in the election, and for weeks after, the party gained a lot of attention in the media over its refusal to swear the oath.
St-Pierre Plamondon said Thursday he will remain outside the Blue Room until he no longer has to pledge allegiance to the King. He was optimistic, however, that a law could be adopted as early as next week, allowing the PQ's three-member caucus to enter.
"I'm still very optimistic because this is moving forward, when you have all political parties saying we want this solved and solved quickly," St-Pierre Plamondon said, referring to the fact that the Liberals have also signalled they would vote in favour of ending the mandatory oath.
"We're aiming at something that's difficult to change, and we are very close to that objective being achieved, so I'm very optimistic."
It's still unclear how long it will take to pass a bill about the oath of office. Legault, meanwhile, says his government is focused on addressing the rising cost of living.
"The current priority is to help Quebecers cope with inflation," Legault said Thursday. "If for the PQ there are other priorities, it is their choice."
- This report by The Canadian Press was first published on Dec. 1, 2022
Two children are dead and six others are injured after a Laval city bus crashed into a daycare Wednesday morning. The driver of the bus, a 51-year-old man, has been arrested and faces charges of homicide and dangerous driving, police say.
The Bank of Canada released a summary of its Governing Council meetings on Wednesday, providing the public and financial institutions with more insight into the central bank’s decision to raise its key interest rate on Jan. 25.
Netflix Canada is rolling out its long-anticipated plans to crack down on password sharing, saying it will begin notifying Canadian users today by email about limitations.
An 'awkward' attempt at a handshake between Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and the prime minister Tuesday is another example of leaders from the western province hesitating before shaking Justin Trudeau's hand, say political experts.
The sacrifices female killer whales continue to make for their sons well after they are weaned is negatively affecting their reproductive health, according to new scientific research.
In the aftermath of the deadly earthquake that struck Syria and Turkiye, Canadians are donating money and supplies to rescue and relief efforts there. CTVNews.ca rounds up ways you can contribute to charities based in Canada and abroad.
An associate of Ontario’s self-described “crypto king” was operating his own fraud scam parallel to the multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme, court documents allege.
Many Canadians are experiencing strains caused by the increased cost of living and inflation. In his exclusive column for CTVNews.ca, contributor Christopher Liew shares some of the top credits and deductions that you may be able to claim on your income tax return to help you save money.
A Toronto father was working Saturday afternoon when he got a notification from an app connected to his home security system. And what he saw on his phone was every parent's worst nightmare.
An associate of Ontario’s self-described “crypto king” was operating his own fraud scam parallel to the multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme, court documents allege.
There was drama in a Halifax courtroom Wednesday as a Crown prosecutor tried to poke holes in the alibi of a former medical school student who is claiming self-defence in the shooting death of another student during a drug deal.
Eighty-four bricks of suspected cocaine were seized from a commercial truck allegedly attempting to smuggle the drugs into Canada at the Blue Water Bridge, border officials say.
The wait is almost over for ticketholders in the latest Canadian Hard of Hearing Association's Ultimate Dream Home Draw as Pure Country Sudbury morning show hosts get ready to pull the names of the prize winners.
The Calgary Police Service asked residents of a northwest neighbourhood to shelter in their homes as officers responded to a situation Wednesday morning involving a firearm.
If you're a FortisAlberta customer who owns an electric vehicle, the company is looking for your help with a pilot program that will test the limits of Alberta's electrical infrastructure.
A memorial has been set up in the area where 30-year-old Karen Cunningham’s body was found, as police in Woodstock continue to investigate her death as “suspicious” in nature.
In the wake of several Google employees being laid off in Waterloo region, a national business council for tech firms says they’ve already had a number of CEOs in the tech sector ready to connect with those lost their job.
The latest B.C. Labour Market Outlook forecasts employment in the province will reach 3.1 million jobs by 2032 – half a million more than there were last year.
A woman who was seriously injured in a head-on collision last summer is speaking out against ICBC's no-fault policy, arguing it penalizes the victims of accidents.
The Alberta government is moving ahead with a plan that would give oil and gas companies a tax break for meeting their legal obligations to clean up old well sites, inviting a select group of landowner organizations to a meeting to discuss a pilot project.
An 'awkward' attempt at a handshake between Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and the prime minister Tuesday is another example of leaders from the western province hesitating before shaking Justin Trudeau's hand, say political experts.
Saskatchewan underestimated how many rapid antigen tests were needed during the height of the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, while also touting the tests as a key part of its plan to halt transmission of the virus, internal emails indicate.
Two children are dead and six others are injured after a Laval city bus crashed into a daycare Wednesday morning. The driver of the bus, a 51-year-old man, has been arrested and faces charges of homicide and dangerous driving, police say.
A large group of Ottawa residents came out Wednesday to support a drag storytime event at the National Arts Centre, outnumbering protesters who were in opposition.
Saskatoon's Ward 3 city councillor David Kirton decided to cancel his “Coffee with the Councillor” event scheduled for Saturday afternoon at Confederation Mall because of what he calls threatening phone calls and emails which became a “cause for concern”.
Saskatchewan underestimated how many rapid antigen tests were needed during the height of the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, while also touting the tests as a key part of its plan to halt transmission of the virus, internal emails indicate.
