What does 2022 have in store for us: yes! More elections

As soon as Parliament returns, elected officials in Quebec will begin a marathon that will take them to the general election on October 3. The CAQ team will have one last chance to mark the spirits and impose its record before the electoral campaign. For opposition parties, the challenge will be to make themselves known, as COVID-19 has shone the spotlight on the government for 22 months. It’s a safe bet that Liberals, Solidarity and PQ will also continue to attack François Legault on his management of the first wave of the pandemic and his refusal to hold an independent commission of inquiry.

• Case: What does 2022 have in store for us?

The End of Sanitary Measures?

If all goes well, most health measures could be lifted when children are fully immunized at the start of the year. The end of the health emergency should be done with a bill to allow a gradual return to normal. But the Omicron variant, which is more transmissible than its predecessors, could mean keeping the mask on for quite a while, Dr Horacio Arruda warned.

Adoption of the new law 101

Quebec should adopt its reform aimed at giving more bite to the Charter of the French language. A debate took place between the nationalist and federalist wings of the CAQ to extend Bill 101 to CEGEPs, but the idea now seems ruled out. Like the law on secularism, the defense of French is presented by the Caquists as a cornerstone of the defense of Quebec nationalism.

Reports expected on the massacre in CHSLDs

The torture of gout is likely to continue for the Legault government. Hot on his heels before the Holidays on his management of the first wave in CHSLDs, he will have to respond to the reports of the coroner, the Auditor General and the Health Commissioner expected in the coming months. From mid-January, Minister Marguerite Blais will deliver crucial testimony before Coroner Kamel.

Symbolic step for the 3^e link

Thing promised, thing due; a first shovelful of symbolic soil should launch the work of the tunnel between Quebec and Lévis, even if many questions remain unanswered, in particular the share of financing by Ottawa. The famous third link will also come back to haunt the electoral campaign next fall, when it is unanimous against it among the opposition parties.

Campaign in Marie-Victorin

This will be a first test in view of the general elections which will follow a few months later. The election of Catherine Fournier as mayor of Longueuil forces the holding of a poll in Marie-Victorin. The stakes are high for the PQ, which has held this fortified castle since 1985. The by-election will also be an opportunity to send a message to the government in place, either to support it or to sanction it.

And the government’s record?

François Legault has repeated on several occasions that his government intends to respect “100%” of its promises, despite the pandemic. It is true that his government is ticking off the commitments at full speed. But certain projects will remain in abeyance at the end of the session, such as the maximum wait of 90 minutes in the emergency room, the reform of the remuneration of doctors, the creation of 2,600 places in 4-year-old nursery schools, the transfer of 5,000 officials to the regions and the new voting system.

Last chance to make your mark

The upcoming session will be the last opportunity for ministers to leave their mark on this first Legault government. Quebec must in particular prohibit the exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons on its territory. Minister Sonia LeBel will also table a law to promote “made in Quebec” in public calls for tenders.

General elections

Who goes, who does not go in the general election of 2022? This will be the big question of the parliamentary re-entry. With the system of fixed-date elections, the parties are already in pre-electoral mode. For the moment, the polls predict a Caquist tidal wave (up to 97 seats), but in politics, said Robert Bourassa, six months is an eternity.