PQ, QS members must swear oath to King to sit in national assembly: Speaker
Refusing to swear an oath to the King is going to cost some Quebec MNAs their seat in the national assembly, according to a ruling from the Speaker of the legislature.
National assembly speaker François Paradis said in a decision released Tuesday that members who don't pledge allegiance to King Charles III will not be allowed to sit in the Salon Bleu and can be expelled.
The decision was delivered to the leaders of the Parti Québécois (PQ) and Québec solidaire (QS), whose combined 14 members have stood firm against the parliamentary tradition. During the swearing-in ceremony last month, members from the two parties -- who both advocate for Quebec to be a sovereign state -- pledged allegiance to the people of Quebec.
In the last session of the Quebec legislature, members studied a bill that would abolish the pledge of allegiance or make it optional, but the proposed legislation died when the parliamentary session was dissolved. Paradis said since the matter was left unresolved, swearing an oath is mandatory according to the current rules.
"This question raises complex constitutional issues which it is not for me to decide. Suffice it to say that section 128 of the Constitution Act, 1867 is still in force in Quebec. In this context, the chair does not have the power to exempt a member from a constitutional obligation and cannot rule that a motion to override that obligation is in order," Paradis said in his decision Tuesday.
The speaker said members are free to change their minds should they choose to fulfill the mandatory requirements of the national assembly, but until then they are not welcome.
"I hereby give formal orders to the sergeant-at-arms to ensure that this decision is enforced in such a way that member of the national assembly who have not taken the oath of office are not allowed to take their seats in the national assembly or in any of its committees. In the event that a person refuses to comply with this order, the sergeant-at-arms shall have the right to expel him/her."
DECISION DOEST NOT REPRESENT NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, SAYS PQ LEADER
Reacting to the decision Tuesday, St-Pierre Plamondon appeared to downplay the seriousness of the order and accused the speaker of politicizing the issue. In a tweet, he said the decision does not represent the national assembly, but instead "outgoing president, who is no longer an elected official," he wrote, referring to Paradis, the former CAQ MNA for Lévis who chose not to run again in the Oct. 3 provincial election.
He then called it a "political order from the CAQ" when the party has previously said "they do not want to collaborate on the oath, nor provide their legal opinions against a motion," the PQ leader said.
In an interview with CTV News last month, PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon said he was confident he could still sit in the legislature despite his adamant refusal to pledge allegiance to the Crown.
According to the party leader, there is a grey area in the understanding of the law, depending on which constitutional expert you talk to, which he believed opened the door to his members being allowed to fulfill their duties.
"There are many possibilities before us and it's indeed not clear at this point. What's clear is my undertaking not to take that oath for personal reasons, and for honesty, integrity reasons," he said in the interview on Oct. 19.
This is a developing story. More to come.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Indigo Books & Music shareholders vote to approve privatization sale
Indigo Books & Music Inc. shareholders have voted to approve a deal that will see the retailer become a private company. The offer of $2.50 per share comes from Trilogy Retail Holdings Inc. and Trilogy Investments L.P., which have a 56 per cent stake in Indigo and are owned by Gerald Schwartz, the spouse of Indigo chief executive Heather Reisman.
Latest deadly weather in U.S. kills at least 20 as storms carve path of ruin across multiple states
Powerful storms killed at least 20 people, injured hundreds and left a wide trail of destruction across Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas after obliterating homes and destroying a truck stop where dozens sought shelter during the latest deadly weather to strike the central U.S.
What Canadian grocery shoppers need to know about anticompetitive allegations
Amid mounting outrage over high grocery prices, a retail expert says there's a solution to fostering more competition in the country.
Arrests made in 'highly orchestrated' GTA auto theft operation: police
Peel Regional Police say they have arrested 16 suspects and issued arrest warrant for another 10 individuals in connection with an auto theft investigation carried out by a 'highly orchestrated criminal operation.'
North Korea launched a rocket likely carrying a second spy satellite. It's unclear if successful
North Korea launched a rocket likely carrying its second military spy satellite on Monday night, hours after its announcement of a plan to put a satellite into orbit drew strong rebukes from its neighbours.
She developed a passion for genealogy while finding her roots. Now she helps others find their own
Lauren Robilliard always knew she was adopted. As the B.C. native grew older, she developed a passion for genealogy, tracing her roots and paving the way for a career to help others find their own.
Former 'General Hospital' actor Johnny Wactor fatally shot in Los Angeles
Former 'General Hospital' actor Johnny Wactor was fatally shot in downtown Los Angeles while interrupting thieves Saturday, according to his agent and CNN affiliate KABC.
Israeli attack on Rafah tent camp kills 45, prompts global outcry
An Israeli airstrike triggered a massive blaze killing 45 people in a tent camp in the Gaza city of Rafah, officials said on Monday, prompting an outcry from global leaders who urged the implementation of a World Court ruling to halt Israel's assault.
A cross-country look at beer and wine in convenience stores
By Labour Day weekend, Ontarians of legal drinking age could snag a six-pack at their local convenience store on the way to the cottage. But what are alcohol sales like across the country? Here's what we know.