Quebec assembly caps off hostile session
The move came as Premier Jean Charest accused the Parti Québécois of filibustering as legislature members prepared to wrap up what has been a raucous session of the legislature.
"They systematically obstructed the adoption of this law and a certain number of bills," Charest said at the national assembly. "And, they did it, unfortunately, without considering the greater interests of Quebec, which is in our opinion, irresponsible."
Despite complaints from the PQ, the Liberals, who hold a slim majority in the assembly, were determined to vote on Bill 100, which they said was necessary to implement certain budget measures promised in March.
'It smells like total improvisation, a sort of panic.' — Pauline Marois, PQ leader
The measures include cuts to government agencies and the implementation of a $25-per-taxpayer annual health care "contribution."
"The number one issue facing [the province] is the economy," said Charest, who called forcing the adoption of the bill "the responsible thing to do."
The premier's arguments were rejected by Parti Québécois Leader Pauline Marois, who said PQ members were willing to sit next week to continue debate on the bill.
"It smells like total improvisation, a sort of panic," Marois said of the emergency sitting. She suggested the move was an attempt to distract the public from the fact the government had not accomplished much this session.
Debate over ethics issues
The premier defended his government's continued objection to opposition demands for a public inquiry into allegations of collusion and corruption in the construction industry as well as political party financing practices.
The allegations are hearsay, said Charest, who suggested the media have been giving the accusations made by the PQ too much attention.
"If it's allegations, and no evidence, if they're just throwing out words to try to sully someone's reputation, then frankly that's a good question for you," Charest told reporters.
In April, Charest was forced to launch an inquiry into the nomination process for the province's judges. The move came after his former justice minister, Marc Bellemare, claimed he had been pressured to name Liberal Party donors to the bench.
Bellemare had earlier claimed Charest was aware the party had received questionable funding from sources linked to the construction industry.
In May, Charest fired his family minister, Tony Tomassi, after he admitted to having used a credit card belonging to a security company for his own personal use.
The adoption of new ethics and party financing rules will wait until the fall.
Controversial decisions
The session also saw the government criticized for changes made to the school calendar allowing Orthodox Jewish schools to operate on the weekend. Education Minister Michelle Courchesne later backtracked on part of the plan, announcing that statutory holidays would not be affected.
The session also saw renewed debate over the issue of reasonable accommodations for cultural and religious minorities.
In March, the government tabled Bill 94, which would force women who wear face coverings for religious reasons to remove them before receiving certain public services.
Anglos not taken for granted: Charest
Last week, the government tabled Bill 103, which sets out new rules for access to English public schools.
Under the proposed law, children in private English schools accumulate points to help them qualify for a public English education. However, there is no clear number of terms or years that would get a student into the public system.
The point system combines with more subjective criteria, in which parents would also have to explain to the government why their child should be admitted to the English public system.
The bill, which responded to a Supreme Court ruling overturning the previous legislation, was criticized by both opposition parties and English schools.
'We do not take for granted the support of any given community.' — Jean Charest, Quebec premier
The PQ and some nationalist groups argue the new rules simply increase the cost of gaining access to English schooling and do not do enough to protect the French language.
On Friday, Charest responded to anglophone groups who accused the Liberal Party of not doing enough to ensure the survival of the English public school system.
"We do not take for granted the support of any given community," Charest said. "Language issues are always difficult."
Charest called the bill a "balanced choice," pointing out the government had chosen not to invoke the notwithstanding clause of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to block access to English private schools — a recommendation made by some nationalist groups and a government advisory body.
The government will work with English school boards to ensure they continue to prosper, the premier said.