(Québec) Former MP François Paradis, still President of the National Assembly until a successor is found for him, has decided: The MPs of Québec solidaire and the Parti Québécois, who take the oath of King Charles III. Have not performed can be expelled from Parliament Blue Room of the National Assembly.
Posted 2:33pm Updated 3:00pm
Charles Lecavalier The Press
Hugo Pilon-Larose The press
“I issue formal orders to the Sergeant-in-Chief to ensure that this decision is implemented in such a way that the deputies who have not taken the oath cannot be seated in the Chamber of the National Assembly nor in its commissions. In the event that anyone refuses to comply with this prohibition, the Sergeant-at-Arms has the authority to expel them,” Mr. Paradis wrote in a decision issued Nov. 1.
Mr Paradis stated that “the oath of allegiance mentioned in Section 128 of the Constitution Act 1867 is obligatory for participation in Parliamentary proceedings”. In doing so, he formally tells the rebel MPs that the lack of an oath “prevents them from taking their place in the National Assembly hall”. You can take an oath at any time to remedy this situation.
On October 19, the 11 QS MPs took an oath “to the people of Quebec,” swearing to King Charles III. however, did not declare allegiance and did not sign the register of oaths. The same applies to the three chosen PQ. PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon insisted during the election campaign that he should vote for Charles III. would not take the oath.
Mr Paradis acknowledges in his decision that it is “unusual” for an “outgoing President” to say so, but he believes the current situation justifies it. “The question is not hypothetical as some MPs have already refused to take the oath of allegiance and have publicly pledged not to do so. The challenge […] could cause difficulties from the beginning of the first session of the new legislature before the election of the new members of the Presidency,” he explained.
It ruled that “in the hierarchy of legal sources, statutory and constitutional provisions take precedence over all other provisions of internal procedure” and that “the National Assembly […] cannot deviate from this by simple requests”. In doing so, he closes the door on the PQ, which reiterates that a simple motion would allow elected officials to forget that famous oath forever, but seems to recognize that legislation could change the situation, according to constitutional lawyer Patrick Taillon.
The PQ asks the CAQ to intervene
The PQ did not appreciate the departure of Mr. Paradis. “The very outgoing President of the Assembly expressed an opinion that no one asked for,” said PQ MP Pascal Bérubé, who was far from pleased. Mr. Paradis “coincidentally” goes “exactly in the same direction as his colleagues from the CAQ,” he lamented.
“It’s his opinion, we have 12 opinions that tell us that we can go ahead,” the Matane-Matapédia MP told La Presse.
The solution is political, believes Mr. Bérubé, who points out that the ball is in the hands of the CAQ. “We shouldn’t question those who are getting up, we should be questioning those who are falling. The CAQ government has made it clear in the past that it wants to end ties with the monarchy. It’s happening now, three quarters of the population is with us,” he said. The party made this application on Wednesday during the first round of negotiations between the political parties as to whether QS and PQ would receive the status of recognized factions with a budget and speaking time.
He also asked CAQ MP Nathalie Roy, who is running for election as Assembly President, to publicly comment on the issue.
QS is “not in panic mode”
Speaking for Québec Solidaire (QS), the group’s new parliamentary leader, Hochelaga-Maisonneuve MP Alexandre Leduc, reiterated several times on Tuesday that his party is “not in panic mode” on the issue and that he is taking the time to do so Analyze Mr. Paradis’ decision.
“It’s an important moment, it’s an official decision by the President. This is not an opinion piece. We will measure it as the president’s official text,” he told La Presse.
To know if the deputies of the QS until November 29, the day of the resumption of parliamentary work, King Charles III in Quebec.
Without an oath to the King, MPs receive a salary and can hire constituency staff, but they cannot enter the Blue Room, where laws are passed.
QS introduced a bill to make the oath to the king optional before the election, but it failed. The CAQ now says it is ready to adopt it and turn its back on the practice, which it believes is obsolete. Justice Minister and Parliamentary leader of the government, Simon Jolin-Barrette, has already reiterated that a bill is needed to end the oath to the king. But passing a law takes time, and during that time the elected representatives of QS and PQ have to play bystanders if they still refuse to take the oath.