National Assembly convenes for first time post-election

Anti-corruption bill, to be presented tomorrow, expected to receive support from all parties

QUEBEC — The wheels of Quebec democracy began to turn Tuesday, the first sitting of the 40th legislature since Confederation.

And as newly re-elected assembly Speaker Jacques Chagnon noted, 2012 marks the 220th anniversary of an elected government for the province, known in 1792 as Lower Canada.

On Wednesday, Premier Pauline Marois will read her inaugural address, setting out the legislative program of her Parti Québécois government.

The PQ has served notice that Bill 1, the first law it will propose, is the Integrity in Public Contracts Act, meant to plug cracks that have come to light before the Charbonneau Commission into corruption in Quebec’s construction industry.

Bill 1 will be presented Thursday, the first full day of business for the Quebec National Assembly.

The PQ government has a minority, with only 54 seats in the 125-seat house.

But the three opposition parties — the Quebec Liberals, with 50 seats; the Coalition Avenir Québec, with 19; and Québec solidaire, with two — have expressed support for any measure against corruption.

Tuesday’s acclamation of Chagnon, an eight-term Liberal MNA for Westmount-St-Louis, as speaker weakens the Liberal caucus to 49 members but does not change the mathematics of the 40th legislature: For any bill to pass, the PQ needs the support of at least the CAQ or the Liberal caucus.

In his acceptance speech, Chagnon, praised by all for his fairness and humour in the previous ses- sion, noted Marois is Quebec’s first female premier.

And he highlighted the presence of Léo Bureau-Blouin, the former student leader, who at 20 is the youngest person ever elected to the National Assembly.

Marois won a standing ovation from all sides. Liberal MNAs did not rise for Bureau-Blouin.

“I want this chamber to be a model of tolerance, working together and openness,” Chagnon said before taking his oath of office.

In her speech Wednesday, Marois will note the PQ’s first compromise, on the $200 health tax the party promised to abolish. Finance Minister Nicolas Marceau has put it off for a year and made it progressive — sparing low-income Quebecers and raising it to $2,000 on those with higher incomes.

Marois will also say the PQ intends to toughen up Bill 101, to counter the perceived threat that French is in decline in Montreal.

Before the assembly met, members of all parties reacted to testimony Tuesday at the Charbonneau Commission, which suggested that Montreal Mayor Gérald Tremblay might have known more than he say she did about illegal financing of his party by construction companies.

Robert Poëti, a former spokesman for the Sûreté du Québec and now Liberal MNA for Montreal’s Margeurite-Bourgeoys riding, said Tremblay should step aside.

“I think Mr. Tremblay has to take his decision himself, but the best one is to go on the side during the investigation,” Poëti told reporters.

Coalition Avenir Québec Leader François Legault called on the government to summon Tremblay to explain the allegations of huge illegal cash contributions to his party and alleged cash bribes to Frank Zampino, Tremblay’s right-hand man on city council.

“I expect the Marois government to demand explanations and ensure that contracts for the city of Montreal are awarded at reasonable prices,” Legault said.

Bernard Drainville, the government’s democratic institutions minister, told reporters he agrees with Municipal Affairs Minister Sylvain Gaudreault that Tremblay should reflect on his future, but then went further.

“We’ve got to clean up the system,” Drainville said.