The five elements that have marked the parliamentary inauguration

Photo Simon Clark
The premier of Québec, Philippe Couillard

Charles Lecavalier

Tuesday, February 6, 2018 18:08

UPDATE
Tuesday, February 6, 2018 18:15

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The last parliament is back in session before the elections has been marked by the crisis of mandatory overtime for nurses. This debate has been raging for the heart cry of the young Émilie Ricard, which became viral on social media last week. The topic has monopolized the discussion during the question period.

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Here is a summary of the day.

1. The government Strip-Couillard

Photo Simon Clark

The minister of Health, Gaétan Barrette

Gaétan Barrette became the target of all the political opponents of the QLP. François Legault speaks now of the government, “Bar-Couillard”. “We saw the Dr. Barrette accuse these nurses will adversely affect the recruitment of new nurses, it is necessary to do so,” said the chief caquiste.

The vice-head of pq’s Véronique Hivon denounces a two weights two measures : the “Dr. Barrette has” not given the same importance to the nurses to the doctors, accuse-t-it. Philippe Couillard has had to defend her ebullient minister of the character is “firm and determined” during a press conference : “He has done a lot of good things for Quebec, Dr. Barrette”.

2. The fault in the new logo

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The mnas, Amir Khadir and Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, of Québec solidaire

The surveys are not soft for QS. After the upturn in the GND, the party fell back to near 8 % in voting intentions in the latest polls.

The member of parliament Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois was, however, an explanation to offer to the activists disappointed. His party has spent a lot of time “in the process of logo change, the merger with national Option, and the constitution of our platform Motion”.

“It has been very busy, and it has been less visible,” he started.

3. The CAQ in the firmament

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The leader of the Coalition avenir Québec, François Legault

The politicians do not comment on never the bad surveys, but resistant hard good shots of the sensor. “Everyone wants to be where we are now,” quipped François Legault, perky, when a journalist asked him if he “rose too high too fast” in the opinion polls, which rank first in voting intentions.

The chief caquiste says that this first place helps a lot to recruit quality candidates, in contrast to 2014 where it was much more difficult. “In 2014, we went to 13 % in the polls, at the beginning. It is sure that actually it is a lot more easy, I think that this is the day and the night, 2018 with 2014,” he said.

4. Aussant at the national Assembly

Photo archive TOMA ICZKOVITS

Jean-Martin Aussant

The former member of the parti québecois Jean-Martin Aussant has done a remarkable passage in the visitors gallery of the blue room to attend to the first question period of the parliamentary session. The leader of the parti québecois Jean-François Lisée has made great signs of the arm for the call to join his former colleagues, members of parliament, and the parliamentary leader Pascal Bérubé was invited to take her cell phone to strike up a conversation.

During a brief media scrum at the end of the afternoon, Mr. Aussant has not ruled out a political comeback. “If I go back to a day in politics, this will be based on beliefs and not on a survey […] I still have a lot of friends here and they are doing their maximum, I am convinced”, he said.

5. The vice-head can ask questions

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The new vice-head of the Parti québécois, Véronique Hivon

The formula of the chiefdom to two heads of the PQ was struck to the conventions of parliament.

During the question period, the leader of the official opposition Jean-François Lisée asked two questions and then left the ice to the vice-chief Véronique Hivon, who addressed it also to the prime minister Philippe Couillard. Rather, it is the minister of Health Gaétan Barrette, who stood up.

The tradition suggests that the first minister gets up to answer the questions of the head of the first and second opposed, but there is no provision for a “vice-head”.