It’s the status quo in the National Assembly. Despite the increase in cases of COVID-19 listed among Quebec elected officials, Public Health does not believe it necessary to tighten the health protocols in place in parliament.
According to information collected by The duty, the Secretary General of the National Assembly, Siegfried Peters, recently asked the public health authorities to reassess the instructions in force in the parliamentary precinct. As of Thursday, nine deputies, including Prime Minister François Legault, were in quarantine due to a positive test. This represents 7% of the elected members of this legislature.
However, there is no evidence that the current protocols have not worked, responded Public Health to the National Assembly, after conducting an epidemiological investigation. The increase in cases in parliament could rather be explained by the acceleration of transmission in the community, confided to the Homework a well-informed source.
“The health measures already in force remain applicable, confirmed Thursday the communication adviser of the National Assembly Béatrice Zacharie. [Le Parlement] continues to closely monitor developments. [Il] will adapt to the recommendations of Public Health if they were to change.
On Wednesday, the CAQ parliamentary leader, Simon Jolin-Barrette, assured that, despite some complications, parliamentary work was going well. He reiterates that his government will not use “gag” to pass bills by the end of the session.
Soaring
Thursday morning, on Twitter, the Minister of Families, Mathieu Lacombe, announced that he had obtained a positive test result for COVID-19. “So I’m going to isolate myself for the next few days and work remotely,” said the elected official, who becomes the third CAQ minister in five days to contract the virus.
At the end of the day yesterday, I too started to experience symptoms related to COVID. My test came back positive. I will therefore isolate myself for the next few days and work remotely, as recommended by Public Health. Let’s continue to be careful. We will get there!
— Mathieu Lacombe (@lacombemathieu) March 31, 2022
The Prime Minister, three elected backbenchers and two elected opposition members are also part of the batch of parliamentarians on forced leave.
“If we have to review our ways of operating, especially here, in the National Assembly, well, let’s go back to the job to do our homework,” agreed Thursday morning the spokesperson for Quebec solidaire in matters of health, Vincent Marshal.
Since the return to the Chamber on March 15, the Blue Room can sit at full capacity, i.e. 125 deputies. Parliamentarians are required to wear a mask, except when speaking. Committee work has also resumed on a regular basis.
“On the other hand, the mask must be worn at all times when a person returns from isolation or if he has been in close contact with a person suffering from COVID-19”, specified the National Assembly in an exchange of email, Thursday.
The PQ parliamentary leader, Joël Arseneau, “dares to hope that the recommendations that have been submitted by Public Health have been on a scientific basis”. “We, we simply complied,” he dropped during a press scrum in the morning.
“The National Assembly is a workplace like all other workplaces in Quebec,” added the parliamentary leader of the Liberal Party, André Fortin. MPs and journalists, and the people who work here, should have no more privileges or more restrictions than people in any other workplace in Quebec.”
According to an agreement reached between the parliamentary groups, the National Assembly will reassess its health protocol during the week of April 18, a period of work in the constituency.