The new parliament elected the youngest Speaker, quite reflective of the more than one-third first timers, many of them in their twenties and thirties. He won on the sixth ballot defeating his NDP rival with the help of the Ref-Cons majority. He was previously deputy speaker, so he has had some experience dealing with the sometimes unruly and loud members.
The first-timers have so far had little to do, except watching their seniors, during question period and the presentation of the Budget, which except for a promise to harmonise the federal and provincial sales tax and give Quebec $2.2 billions and to get rid of the $2 -per-vote (each party is given this based on their support in the election) in three years. The first had been promised to Quebec during the election camoaign, based on the same having been given to other provinces and the second was seen as a political move especially against the Liberals who have had problems raising money (Harper had sworn to destroy the Liberal party). This was a stand pat budget, and the NDP, the Official Opposition quickly condemned it as such and accused the government of" doing nothing for job creation,health care, the pension system and climate change". The government will have to address these issues, but they have a secure majority and so can bide their time.
In Quebec, the separatists Parti Quebecois is in turmoil and are once again turning on their leader. This time it is not the Nationalists vs the Sosialists, as was the case under Levesque, who angered the Parizeau's nationalists, when he decided to emphasise a social democratic and sovreignity-association role after winning the Oct.15, 1977 election. This time it is a revolt against the" high-handed" Marois forcing members to vote for the Quebecor/Quebec City arena. Three senior members, including Parizeau's wife, left the party to sit as independent and a fourth followed (this is seen as being directed from behind the scene by the ever-present, brooding and bitter Parizeau). "Queen" Marois has since backtracked and is allowing a free vote. Her leadership is seriously weakened, and its just a matter of time before, she suffers the same fate as past leaders, including Levesque. In the meantime their federal cousins. the Bloc, are all but forgotten, with only 4 MPs, they have lost their parliamentary perks and have to fend for themselves in the wilderness.
The first-timers have so far had little to do, except watching their seniors, during question period and the presentation of the Budget, which except for a promise to harmonise the federal and provincial sales tax and give Quebec $2.2 billions and to get rid of the $2 -per-vote (each party is given this based on their support in the election) in three years. The first had been promised to Quebec during the election camoaign, based on the same having been given to other provinces and the second was seen as a political move especially against the Liberals who have had problems raising money (Harper had sworn to destroy the Liberal party). This was a stand pat budget, and the NDP, the Official Opposition quickly condemned it as such and accused the government of" doing nothing for job creation,health care, the pension system and climate change". The government will have to address these issues, but they have a secure majority and so can bide their time.
In Quebec, the separatists Parti Quebecois is in turmoil and are once again turning on their leader. This time it is not the Nationalists vs the Sosialists, as was the case under Levesque, who angered the Parizeau's nationalists, when he decided to emphasise a social democratic and sovreignity-association role after winning the Oct.15, 1977 election. This time it is a revolt against the" high-handed" Marois forcing members to vote for the Quebecor/Quebec City arena. Three senior members, including Parizeau's wife, left the party to sit as independent and a fourth followed (this is seen as being directed from behind the scene by the ever-present, brooding and bitter Parizeau). "Queen" Marois has since backtracked and is allowing a free vote. Her leadership is seriously weakened, and its just a matter of time before, she suffers the same fate as past leaders, including Levesque. In the meantime their federal cousins. the Bloc, are all but forgotten, with only 4 MPs, they have lost their parliamentary perks and have to fend for themselves in the wilderness.
