President of the National Assembly of Quebec

President of the National Assembly of Quebec is the presiding officer of the National Assembly of Quebec, the provincial legislature of the Canadian province of Quebec. Elected by fellow MNAs from among their own number, the President presides over debates, enforces the rules of procedure, and represents the Assembly in its relations with other institutions. The position is analogous to the Speaker in other Westminster system parliaments and is a role of significant authority and tradition within Quebec politics.

Role and responsibilities

The President’s primary duty is to ensure the orderly conduct of business in the Blue Room of the Parliament Building according to the Standing Orders and parliamentary tradition. This involves recognizing members to speak, ruling on points of order, and maintaining decorum during often heated debates between the government and the Official Opposition. The President also oversees the administration of the Assembly, including its security, finances, and library services, and acts as its representative in dealings with the Lieutenant Governor of Quebec, the Senate of Canada, and other legislative bodies like the French National Assembly.

Election and term

Following a general election, the Assembly meets to elect a President from among its members, typically through a secret ballot. While the position is formally non-partisan, the selection is usually a candidate from the governing party who has secured the agreement of other political parties. The President serves at the pleasure of the Assembly, meaning they hold office until they resign, cease to be an MNA, or are removed by a majority vote. Historically, Presidents have often served for multiple terms across different parliaments, such as Jérôme Choquette and Jacques Chagnon.

List of presidents

Since the creation of the modern National Assembly of Quebec in 1968, replacing the former Legislative Assembly of Quebec, there have been fifteen individuals to hold the presidency. The first was Jean-Noël Lavoie, a Liberal MNA from Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean. Notable long-serving presidents include Clément Richard of the Parti Québécois and Michel Bissonnet of the Liberal Party of Quebec. The current President is Nathalie Roy, a member of the Coalition Avenir Québec representing the riding of Montarville, who was elected to the role in 2022.

Powers and duties

The President possesses significant procedural powers derived from the Standing Orders and precedents set by figures like Bourinot. These include the authority to select which amendments are debated, to discipline members for unparliamentary language, and to cast a tie-breaking vote, though this is rarely exercised. The President also chairs the Bureau of the Assembly, the body responsible for internal administrative and financial matters, and serves as the head of the Legislative Assembly for protocol purposes during state visits and official ceremonies.

History and evolution

The office has its roots in the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec, a role established at the Confederation of Canada in 1867 following the British North America Act. The title was changed to President with the advent of the National Assembly of Quebec in 1968, a reform championed by then-Premier Daniel Johnson Sr. and René Lévesque that reflected a modernizing and distinct national identity. The role’s powers were further codified after the October Crisis and through subsequent reforms to the parliamentary privileges of the institution, shaping it into the authoritative office it is today.

Relationship with other officers

The President works closely with other key officers of the legislature. The Deputy President and Chairmen of Committees assist in presiding over the Assembly. The President also collaborates with the Clerk of the Assembly, the chief procedural advisor, and the Serjeant-at-Arms, who is responsible for security. Externally, the President maintains a relationship with the Lieutenant Governor of Quebec, who delivers the Speech from the Throne, and coordinates with the Speaker of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Commons on inter-parliamentary affairs.