If the government of François Legault began 2023 with pride by electing 90 deputies a few months earlier, the following twelve months will not have been easy for the Prime Minister, whose support in the polls has collapsed in rhythm with the challenges that have surrendered on his way. Story of an eventful year marked by a slowing economy, strikes and important debates about Quebec's energy and language future.
1 – The PQ enters the Blue Room without swearing an oath to the King (January 30)
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The PQ members Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, Pascal Bérubé and Joël Arseneau, elected in autumn 2022, were finally able to take their place in the Salon Bleu when parliamentary work resumed on January 31, 2023.
Photo: The Canadian Press / Jacques Boissinot
After Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, Pascal Bérubé and Joël Arseneau were refused their seats in the autumn, they finally entered the National Assembly without having to swear allegiance to the crown, thanks to a government law passed on the last day of the previous parliamentary session. However, this first in history is taking a backseat in the news as Quebec becomes embroiled in the controversy surrounding the appointment of Amira Elghawaby as Canada's special envoy to combat Islamophobia.
2 – The SAAQ in turmoil (February 20)
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Such queues formed almost everywhere in front of the SAAQ offices last winter.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Ivanoh Demers
The Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec is missing out on its digital transformation with the introduction of SAAQclic. In the middle of winter, endless queues form in front of the branches, forcing the Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Geneviève Guilbault, to personally intervene to solve the problem. The state-owned company's CEO, Denis Marsolais, lost his position on April 5, but the Minister of Cybersecurity and Digital Affairs, Éric Caire, survived the crisis.
3 – Tax cuts to fight inflation (March 21)
Despite the ongoing economic slowdown, Finance Minister Eric Girard is announcing tax cuts for 4.6 million Quebecers to help them cope with the rising cost of living and, in the process, fulfill a key election promise from his party. His budget then projects economic growth of 0.6% in 2023 and 1.4% in 2024, which he hopes will pave the way for a return to fiscal balance in 2027-2028. At the time, the minister estimated the risk of a recession at 50%.
4 – Roxham Road permanently closed (25 March)
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The irregular border crossing near Roxham Road is now permanently closed.
Photo: The Canadian Press / Ryan Remiorz
Roxham Road in Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle, an irregular gateway for tens of thousands of asylum seekers, was permanently closed following a visit to Ottawa by American President Joe Biden. However, the mystery, which has now been moved to airports, remains unsolved for the authorities. As of July 1, there were 170,000 asylum seekers in Quebec, a record high in Canada.
5 – One of the biggest bills in history (March 29)
With the session in full swing, Minister Christian Dubé presents a 1,200-article legislative document to the National Assembly with the aim of creating Santé Québec, an agency that will manage the day-to-day operations of the network. The following month, another bill was passed that aimed to restrict the use of employment agencies. After the Barrette reform, the Dubé reform is underway. However, the network remains underfunded and Quebec has been slow to agree with Ottawa on increasing health transfers, which in theory should bring it $9 billion over 10 years.
6 – Quebec cuts third connection (April 20)
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To officially announce the end of the third highway link between Quebec and Lévis, Minister Geneviève Guilbault appeared at the press conference with studies of the project in hand.
Photo: The Canadian Press / Jacques Boissinot
With bulky satchels under her arm, Geneviève Guilbault meets – alone – with the press to confirm that the third link between Quebec and Lévis promised by her party for 2018 and 2022 is being reviewed and that the new version of the project will be exclusively dedicated to it Public transport and therefore cars will remain excluded. CAQ MPs from the region, who had heard the news in the media a few days earlier, did not do a good job of hiding their frustration. Minister Bernard Drainville desperately apologizes, while his leader hesitates to do the same. Hunted by the conservatives around Éric Duhaime, Éric Caire refuses to resign, despite having pledged to do so if the project fails.
7 – A salary increase that is not implemented (June 6)
Based on the recommendations of an independent committee, National Assembly deputies passed Bill 24, which suddenly increases their annual compensation by $30,000 per year, an increase of 21%. The CAQ, the PLQ and Marie-Claude Nichols (independent) voted in favor, while the QS and PQ were against. It is not surprising that the general public is outraged by this salary increase, which appears to be a conflict of interest that continues to haunt the Legault government today. Solidarity and PQ commit to donating all or part of this increase to non-profit organizations.
8 – The CAQ attacks lease transfers (June 9)
On the very last day of the parliamentary session, Minister France-Élaine Duranceau presented Bill 31 to amend various provisions of the law relating to housing. The draft law is quickly drawing criticism from housing committees, who denounce the proposed end to lease transfers, a mechanism that allows a tenant to transfer their contract to another person without the affected owner being able to object unless there is an objection valid reason. Demonstrations followed in several cities in the province. Québec Solidaire is a pioneer and is also calling for new measures to support seniors.
9 – The REM enters the station (July 28)
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Alex Busby and his son Oscar were among the first to try out the new Réseau express métropolitain (REM).
Photo: The Canadian Press / Graham Hughes
The Réseau express métropolitain (REM) automated electric train project, launched under the Couillard government, was finally realized with the inauguration of the South Shore branch and the official launch of the service a few days later. Meanwhile, other major public transportation projects — like the extension of Montreal's blue subway line or Quebec City's future tram system — are making slow progress. To speed things up, the government is reviving the idea of creating an agency independent of the MTQ.
10 – Gender Issues Come to the Gathering (September 13)
Faced with questions about mixed toilets and the hiring of non-binary people as teachers for children, Education Minister Bernard Drainville announced in the first days of the parliamentary term the formation of a “committee of wise men” to advise the government on these sensitive issues. His colleague Suzanne Roy then took over the file and arranged appointments. However, issues affecting LGBTQ+ people persist, as demonstrated by the hunger strike of Alexe Frédéric Migneault, who was unable to obtain the X mark on his health insurance card.
11 – Northvolt comes to Quebec (September 28)
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The Legault government is betting heavily on the “battery sector” to develop Quebec’s economy.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Ivanoh Demers
This is the most important private project in the history of Quebec, says Pierre Fitzgibbon, minister plenipotentiary for the “battery sector”. That day, François Legault and Justin Trudeau announced with smiles that the Swedish company Northvolt would build an electric vehicle battery cell factory in Montérégie that would eventually employ 3,000 workers. To attract the company, Ottawa and Quebec have agreed to invest up to $7.3 billion. On stage, Prime Minister Legault is touched. “When I go into politics, it’s for days like today,” he said.
12 – A PQ win that – surprise! – reignites debate over third link (October 3)
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New PQ MP Pascal Paradis (left) and his leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon (right) cheered on the evening of the victory.
Photo: The Canadian Press / Jacques Boissinot
Rarely have we seen a complementary election have such a big impact. The win in Jean-Talon by the PQ – which had nevertheless scored a much lower score in Saint-Henri-Saint-Anne in March – was surprising in its magnitude. Visibly shaken, François Legault resumed the third Link project before entrusting the study to the Caisse de dépôt etplacement. For its part, the PQ remains at the top of the polls and the presentation of the first year budget does not appear to have affected its popularity.
13 – A report on the revival of the Liberal Party (October 12)
Depressed by the disastrous results of the 2022 elections, liberal activists are regaining hope thanks to the PLQ Recovery Committee report, co-authored by former senator André Pratte, who was later appointed president of the party's political committee. However, the long-awaited leadership race will not take place until 2025, and the only openly interested candidate, Frédéric Beauchemin, will have sat as an independent for much of the fall, as will Marie-Claude Nichols, still on the fence. with his former colleagues.
14 – Quebec revises its higher education funding policy (October 13)
While Jean-François Roberge is still delaying the unveiling of the plan of the interministerial action group for the future of the French language, his colleague Pascale Déry is presenting a now modified reform that will entail, in particular, an increase in tuition fees for foreigners and Canadians outside Quebec, who study at English-speaking universities. To stem the decline of the French language, the Legault government is also committed to the Frenchization of temporary immigrants, whose numbers have exploded in recent years.
15 – Hydro-Québec reviews its priorities (November 2)
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Michael Sabia, CEO of Hydro-Québec, took office on August 1st.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Ivanoh Demers
The prospect of a medium-term energy shortage is catching up with Hydro-Québec as the Legault government continues to negotiate with Newfoundland and Labrador to renew the operating contract for Churchill Falls. To meet the demand, the new CEO of the state-owned company, Michael Sabia, presented an action plan three months after taking office that envisages an expansion of 8,000 to 9,000 MW by 2035, i.e. five times the energy generated by the Romaine complex inaugurated in October . To train more workers, Quebec is introducing fast-track, paid construction training. There is currently no talk of a confrontation with nuclear power, even though Hydro has commissioned a study to restart Gentilly-2.
16 – The Ultimate Fiscal Compact (November 7)
The November economic update, which forces Secretary Girard to cut his 2024 growth forecasts by half, is an opportunity to bury the hatchet alongside local governments, especially thanks to $1.8 billion in federal investment funding affordable housing for the development of social and welfare facilities. The fiscal compact approach was replaced by that of the reciprocity declaration and a few months later the transfer of a QST point was enshrined in law. However, the stalemate between Quebec and cities continues, particularly over funding for public transport companies, which are currently subject to audits..
17 – A controversial subsidy (November 14)
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Minister Eric Girard had a bad quarter of an hour during Question Time on November 21st.
Photo: The Canadian Press / Jacques Boissinot
Without suspecting that he would provoke criticism, Eric Girard announced a week after presenting his economic statement that the government would invest $5 million to $7 million in 2024 to host two preseason games for the Los Angeles Kings at the Videotron Center organize wealthy American ice hockey team. Reactions are numerous as Quebec – whose finances, as the minister himself admits, are strained – is embroiled in difficult negotiations with public sector workers. And that the amount of the subsidy roughly corresponds to the additional amount that the food banks charge to get through the holidays…
18 – Strikes increase (November 23)
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The unions prevented the fall of the Legault government by declaring numerous strike days and organizing all kinds of demonstrations.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Ivanoh Demers
Talks with public sector unions degenerated in the fall. The strikes are increasing. Several trade union organizations, such as the Common Front (CSN, FTQ, CSQ, APTS) and the FIQ, declared strike days here and there, but the FAE went on an indefinite general strike on November 23rd. Since then, 40% of the school network has been paralyzed. Negotiations between the parties, which were interrupted on Christmas Eve, were expected to resume shortly with the aim of reaching an agreement by January.
19 – A new spokesman for Québec Solidaire (November 26)
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Émilise Lessard-Therrien and Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois now form the speaking duo of Québec solidaire.
Photo: The Canadian Press / Spencer Colby
To succeed Manon Massé as their party's female spokesperson, Québec Solidaire activists chose Émilise Lessard-Therrien, who, after a particularly close vote, defeated Ruba Ghazal and Christine Labrie at the finish. Facing an empty seat, his male counterpart Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois received 90% support, a figure barely below what Paul St-Pierre Plamondon and François Legault received from their respective parties earlier this year.
20 – End of session due to suspension (December 9)
After a night of debates under the exceptional procedure, deputies of the National Assembly finally passed Bill 15 on health system reform. The final vote on Bill 31, which specifically provides for the end of lease transfers, has been postponed until 2024, much to the dismay of Minister Duranceau. For the first time, the Commissioner for Ethics and Professional Conduct, Ariane Mignolet, also agrees to reopen an investigation: that of Claude Surprenant, a former MP who loudly claimed that he had been unfairly reprimanded by Parliament, in 2017.