Quebec legislature faces 19-bill backlog before summer break
Lawmakers have until June 12 to pass major legislation including energy drink restrictions, intimate partner violence protections, and Bill 101 expansion.
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Quebec's National Assembly is staring down a compressed legislative calendar: 19 bills to pass in five days before the summer recess begins June 12. Among them are several major pieces of legislation on the Coalition Avenir Québec's agenda.
Proposed bills include a youth ban on energy drinks, stronger protections against intimate partner violence, Quebec's draft constitution, and an expansion of Bill 101 to vocational and adult education. Political analyst Karim Boulos said the timing virtually guarantees many won't become law this session — but they're likely to resurface as campaign promises ahead of October's provincial election.
"They're using these to try to put forward an idea that we're going to see a different view of Quebec in the future," Boulos said. Premier Christine Fréchette called on lawmakers to "double their efforts because Quebecers need it." Polling suggests a tight three-way race between the CAQ, Parti Québécois, and Liberals, with the CAQ having gained ground since Fréchette took over as premier. Boulos said issues like the economy and the U.S. trade war will likely dominate the election campaign, with sovereignty remaining a minority position among voters.