Nineteen bills in five days.
That’s the type of backlog Quebec’s National Assembly is facing, as lawmakers have until June 12 before the legislative sessions wraps up for the summer.
And with the October election around the corner, it’ll be the last time things are business-as-usual before voters start seeing parties shift to full election mode.
Several major pieces of legislation remain on the CAQ’s agenda as the clock ticks down on the spring session.
The timing means many of those bills may not become law but could be revived as campaign promises in the fall, says political analyst Karim Boulos.
“They’re using these to try to put forward an idea that we’re going to see a different view of Quebec in the future,” Boulos said. “And you’ll have three different visions is what I’m expecting.”
Among the 19 bills are measures covering a youth ban on energy drinks, stronger protections against intimate partner violence, Quebec’s draft constitution and an expansion of Bill 101 to vocational and adult education.
“I’m expecting everyone to double their efforts because Quebecers need it,” said Premier Christine Fréchette.
All this comes as polling numbers suggest a neck-and-neck race between the Parti Québécois and the Liberals.
The CAQ appears to have also bounced back ever since Fréchette was chosen as premier.
“It stabilized the political waters,” Boulos explained. “And now we have a legitimate three-way race.”
It’s a significant reversal from late last year, when the PQ was flirting with 40 per cent voter support.
“The 40 per cent meteoric improvement of the PQ was really due to Mr. (François) Legault’s lack of popularity,” Boulos said.
The political analyst believes issues like the economy and uncertainty with the trade war are likely to take centre stage this election, while support for sovereignty remains a minority opinion in the province.
“Nationalism is the key,” Boulos stated. “Sovereignty, a little less so.”
“Our coalition is on the side of Quebecers,” Fréchette said. “The Quebecers’ position is that they don’t want a referendum. There is uncertainty hanging over us.”
CityNews spoke to Montrealers Monday. Some identified climate change as a top priority.
“Nobody’s paying enough attention to the environment,” one person said.
“If we continue the way that we’re going, there isn’t going to be a liveable planet,” said another.
Others said it was health care and homelessness.
“The number of people on the streets right now shouldn’t be happening, in a place where we’re proud of having universal health care,” said one person.
“The more we head towards private medicine, the more we’re going to end up looking like the United States, and we don’t want that,” added another.
Several were looking for change.
“For me, it’s sure that I’m going to support the Parti Québécois,” one voter said.
“We’re swimming uphill, but we got to support the Liberal Party,” said another.
“I think we need to change the government with someone who has a brain,” added a third.
