Quebec Conservative leader demands a place in National Assembly ahead of new session
Although his party failed to elect any MNAs on Oct. 3, Eric Duhaime maintains that a place in the National Assembly is rightfully his.
On Tuesday, as soon as Parliament resumes, the Quebec Conservative leader will send a letter to Nathalie Roy -- expected to become the new National Assembly president -- in the hopes of gaining special status, even though he was not elected.
"We must find a way to arrange a provision that will give us a minimum place in the sun," Duhaime told The Canadian Press on Sunday.
He points to the fact that his party received over half a million votes in the provincial election, arguing that their voices must be heard in the Quebec legislature.
Duhaime is asking for three things: an office in the parliamentary building, access to members of the parliamentary Press Gallery, and participation in closed-door sessions normally reserved for elected officials, for example, during budget presentations.
He says refusing his requests would be "somewhat undemocratic."
"It is completely absurd what is happening."
He said he has contacted other party leaders in recent weeks and is confident they will support his demands.
"These accommodations will not cost the taxpayers a penny, and this approach would send a positive sign that every vote counts in Quebec. It is about respecting your institution, promoting a healthy democracy and valuing every vote," Duhaime wrote in his letter, which will be sent out Tuesday as soon as the president is elected.
SEARCHING FOR A CONVERT
If just one of the existing 125 MNAs joined the Conservatives, the doors of Parliament would automatically open for Duhaime.
"We are beginning to identify people who are dissatisfied in the various caucuses," he admitted without giving names.
Despite his demands for a place in Parliament, Duhaime is not ready to call for a thorough reform of the rules and an overhaul of the voting system. His party has not yet made a decision on this issue -- but they will at their next convention in 2023.
The Conservative Party won 13 per cent of the popular vote on Oct. 3.
To obtain official recognition in the National Assembly, a parliamentary group must have at least 12 elected members or 20 per centof the vote.
"This percentage must be reviewed in light of the new reality," he said, referring to the creation of additional parties in recent years.
Duhaime said he would be in favour of lowering the bar for parliamentary recognition to "five or ten per cent" of the popular vote rather than 20 per cent, "which would be much more realistic."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Nov. 27, 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Average hourly wage in Canada now $34.95: StatCan
Average hourly wages among Canadian employees rose to $34.95 on a year-over-year basis in April, a 4.7 per cent increase, according to a Statistics Canada report released Friday morning.
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
This iconic Canadian song is turning 50
Andy Kim's 'Rock Me Gently' is marking a major milestone, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Oprah Winfrey: I set an unrealistic standard for dieting
Oprah Winfrey said on Thursday evening that she has long played a role in promoting unhealthy and unrealistic diets.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Toronto police called to Drake's Bridle Path mansion for another alleged intruder on Thursday
Toronto police say a man who allegedly attempted to access Drake’s Bridle Path property was taken to hospital on Thursday after an altercation with security guards.
Flat tire on a highway? Here's why you shouldn't try to fix it
If you're cruising down a highway and realize you have a flat tire, you may want to think twice before stopping to fix it on the side of the road.
Storm-battered U.S. South is again under threat. A boy swept into a drain fights for his life
Dangerous storms crashed over parts of the U.S. South on Thursday even as the region cleaned up from earlier severe weather that spawned tornadoes, killed at least three people, and gravely injured a boy who was swept into a storm drain as he played in a flooded street.
Broadcaster and commentator Rex Murphy dead at 77: National Post
The National Post is reporting that Rex Murphy, the pundit and columnist who hosted a national call-in radio show for decades, has died.