'We aren't an elective monarchy': Opposition MNAs decry Legault's push to pass immigration, secularism bills

Opposition parties are accusing Quebec's Legault government of trying to run the National Assembly like a business, as they attempt to extend the debate of its two flagship bills 9 and 21.

Members of the National Assembly are sitting this weekend after Premier Franois Legault announced he would invoke closure to ensure the billspassbefore summer.

Both of the proposed laws have been overseen by the province's new immigration minister, Simon Jolin-Barrette.

"We aren't an elective monarchy;Franois Legaultis not the king of the National Assembly and Monsieur Jolin-Barrette is not his prince," saidGabriel Nadeau-Dubois, co-spokesperson of the left-wing party Qubec Solidaire.

"The government is not a business and Mr. Legault and Mr.Jolin-Barrette are not the bosses here," he added.

Debate over closure

MNAs began a two-hour debateon the use of closure on Saturday.Debatewas delayed in the afternoon while the Speaker of the National Assembly reviewed requests by opposition MNAs.

After the debate, MNAsbegan discussingBill 9, the proposed immigration reform, and will continue to do so overnight. It's expected to pass in the early morning hours Sunday.

Legault's decision to invoke closure limits debate at the province's National Assembly over the controversial secularism and immigration bills.

The premier said Friday he has a mandate to act on both issues, which were key planks in the Coalition Avenir Qubec's electoral platform last fall.

"What I want Quebecers to understand is that I'm doing exactly what they wanted," Legault said before debates began Saturday.

Bill 9 sets out the framework for a Quebec values test that would-be immigrants will need to pass in order to become a permanent resident.

Bill 21 is a proposed ban on religious symbols in the civil service.

Opposition parties reacted strongly to the decision to invoke closure.

"If we limit debate time, speaking time, unfortunately, we're going to end up with a government that will want to lead by majority and by authority," said Martin Ouellet of thePartiQubcois.

18,000 immigrants waiting for worker status

"The decision of the government is unjustified, it isuseless," said Nadeau-Duboisof Qubec Solidaire. "It's a show of force from a government that does not respect the opposition parties and their work."

Opposition parties are trying one last time to convince the Legault government to process the province's more than 18,000 pending applications for skilled immigrant worker status in Quebec.

The CAQ announced in February it would scrap the files under Bill 9, and make a host of other changes to the province's immigration laws, emphasizing French-language skills and regional labour needs.

Under the bill,titled, "An Act to increase Quebec'ssocio-economicprosperity and adequately meet labour market needs through successful immigrant integration," any application prior to Aug. 2, 2018 will be made void.

Legault's party has saidsince those applicationsare included in the previous system, processing them will take a year and a half time the party is not willing to sacrifice due to the urgency of the province's labour shortage.

Immigration minister seen out for a run during debate

As debatestretched intoSaturday evening, Liberal MNA Marc Tanguay accused Jolin-Barrette of going for a run during proceedings.

"It's scandalous, it's arrogant. We must denounce it," Tanguay said.

The comment elicited loud chatter in the room as CAQ MNASbastien Schneeberger protested that Tanguaywas misleading members of the assembly.

Liberal MNASbastien Proulxdefended his colleague, pointing to a tweet with pictures of Jolin-Barrette in workout clothes outside Quebec legislature buildings, taken by a TVA reporter.

Later, Tanguay rose in the National Assembly and complained that CAQwhipric Lefebvrehad walked up to him, pointing his finger and swore as he said, "You're not allowed to do that," referring to the jogging accusation.

Tanguay called it threatening and intimidating.

The Speaker,Franois Paradis, suspended debate soon after and said the parties involved would discuss it outside of the chamber.