‘A lot we can do’: Province has three weeks left to pass bills
QUEBEC Premier Philippe Couillard is appealing to the opposition to help the government adopt the laws remaining on the books before the legislature adjourns for the summer recess.
But the opposition says the Liberals have had four years to push through legislation.
“There’s a lot we can do,” Couillard told reporters Tuesday. “There’s a lot we can do with consent.
“I trust my colleagues from other parties. There’s ample time later (in the election campaign) for debates. Why don’t we agree to adopt, before we leave, those bills which are so important for Quebecers?”
Time has indeed become a factor at the legislature, which is scheduled to recess for the summer on June 15. A total of 11 working legislature days remain.
Once the legislature recesses, Quebec will be headed into the fall election, which means no laws can be adopted until a new government is formed.
Much remains to be done including Bill 157, Quebec’s bill applying Ottawa’s plans to legalize the use of recreational marijuana, Bill 128 setting provincewide guidelines for dogs and Bill 176 setting new labour standards.
There are many others including one delaying school board elections to 2020. The Liberals can use their majority to adopt some bills. For those it tabled at the last minute it would need the consent of the opposition to proceed.
Consent, for example, is required to adopt legislation allowing Montreal’s La Presse newspaper to be transformed into a non-profit organization.
There have been rumours the dog bill will never become law because opinions on its merits are divided.
“I have not thrown in the towel,” Public Security Minister Martin Coiteux, who is responsible for the bill, told reporters standing beside Couillard. “There is a consensus on the fact there needs to be a strict framework when it comes to dogs.
“There is a consensus on the fact minimal strict norms apply all across Quebec.”
Couillard himself warned of the dangers of not adopting the cannabis law. If Quebec does not proceed, Ottawa’s legislation will fill the void and there are elements of Ottawa’s law, Bill C-45, of which Quebec does not approve, he said.
That includes the possibility of citizens growing pot in their homes.
“The federal government will go over the head of Quebec and start marketing cannabis in Quebec,” Couillard said. “Nobody wants that. I think we need to have confidence in the sense of responsibility of those who are elected.”
The cannabis bill is currently before a committee of the legislature where it is being studied clause-by-clause. Lucie Charlebois, the minister responsible for the bill, indicated Tuesday that the work on the bill is proceeding normally.
Out of 120 articles in the bill, 75 have been reviewed and adopted at the committee level.
The opposition, however, remains skeptical. Parti Québécois leader Jean-François Lisée said he has doubts the dog bill will be adopted.
“It will wind up being another broken promise,” Lisée told reporters.
Lisée said the opposition is willing to make things work in the coming weeks, but he questioned the Liberal government’s real willingness to pass certain bills.
He noted some committees that could be meeting to look at bills have been idle for weeks.
“This government has a majority,” Lisée said at a news conference. “They are the ones who lead the agenda and they have had four years.
“So they cannot plead they’re surprised that there’s only three weeks left.”