With its super-majority, the CAQ will be able to appoint or remove people from key positions, such as the Chief Electoral Officer or the Auditor General, without the support of the opposition. Worried, Québec solidaire asks him to commit to obtaining the consent of at least one other party, in order to ensure their legitimacy.
The CAQ’s landslide victory on October 3 created a situation rarely seen: the Legault government alone holds two-thirds of the seats needed in the National Assembly to fill key positions in the democratic process.
It could thus appoint or dismiss, without consultation, the Ethics Commissioner, the Lobbyists Commissioner, the Chief Electoral Officer, the Public Protector, the Auditor General, the French Language Commissioner, but also the Commissioner of ‘UPAC, the Director of the Sûreté du Québec and the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions.
In the case of these last three positions, it was the CAQ itself that changed the process to require a nomination by two-thirds of the National Assembly, through its very first bill in 2018.
“The spirit of the two-thirds is to ensure that the appointments are not partisan, that it brings together as many people as possible,” underlines the parliamentary leader of Québec solidaire, Alexandre Leduc.
Especially since the CAQ obtained its 90 seats with only 41% of the votes, he adds.
“They could decide to make unilateral appointments. It would respect the law, but what we are saying is that it would not respect the spirit of the law, ”continues Mr. Leduc.
QS is not asking to review the laws, but a simple “moral commitment” from the Prime Minister. Otherwise, a unilateral appointment could “undermine the credibility” of the reports submitted by the Lobbyists Commissioner or the Auditor General, he argues.
French Language Commissioner
Alexandre Leduc cites the case of the future commissioner for the French language who is to take office with the reform of Bill 101. The name of a candidate circulated last year, he says, but this one was rejected due to lack of consensus.
“That person did not have the support of other political parties. Out of courtesy, I won’t name his name, but now there is a fear, since they are two-thirds, could they come back with this person? “, he illustrates.
The Chief Electoral Officer’s mandate must also be renewed shortly, while that of the Auditor General will expire before the next election.
Consult, no more
The Prime Minister’s Office undertakes to consult the opposition parties, without promising to systematically obtain support in the House.
“The appointment process for persons designated by the National Assembly provides for consultation with opposition parties and a meeting with the candidate chosen before an appointment. We intend to continue with the same approach of collaboration with the oppositions, ”wrote the spokesperson for the Prime Minister.