PQ fears that parliamentary activities will go smoothly if it is not recognized as an official party

Joel Arceneau believes that the proper functioning of the National Assembly will be at risk if the Parti Québécois (PQ) and Quebec Solidaire (QS) do not obtain parliamentary group status.

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According to the deputy from Îles-de-la-Madeleine, while representing around 30% of the electorate, the PQ and QS fear a “rejection of democracy” if they are not recognized.

However, Mr. Arseneau made sure not to worry about the fate of his political party. He recalled that all parties used to agree to adjust the parliamentary rules at the beginning of the mandate depending on the election results.

“We are not in the first instance compared to the normal regime of 20% and 12 deputies”, he pointed out.

As of now, every political party is looking at the results of the ballot. “Then, we will start working with consensus to find an acceptable solution. […]. We appeal to the Government and the Liberal Party’s sense of responsibility to recognize the popular vote.

During the debate, the PQ maintained that the recognition of third parties was necessary for the “smooth running” of parliamentary work. Its representatives plead that the presence of 14 independent deputies risks significantly reducing the question-answer period and parliamentary committees.

“This has really compromised the functioning of our National Assembly, and I think all parties are well aware of this,” he warned.

They argue that a “rejection of democracy” is to be feared if the PQ and QS are not recognized when they represent nearly 30% of the people who voted in the last election.

The National Assembly’s rules provide that it must have at least 12 deputies or 20% of the popular vote to enjoy parliamentary group rank, which allows parties to have an adequate operating budget as well as more talking time in the bedroom. .

Over the years, negotiations have been held to grant these benefits to parties even if the conditions provided for by the rules are not met. This type of accommodation requires the agreement of all political parties.

For now, all parties are in favor of recognizing the PQ and QS, except the Liberals, who will first commit Francois Legault to reforming the voting system.