Quebec Assembly reconvenes under new Premier Fréchette

Quebec's National Assembly reconvened Tuesday in Quebec City, giving new Premier Christine Fréchette and her Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) majority just five weeks to enact legislation before the summer recess and the October 5 general election.

Fréchette, who was sworn in on April 15 after winning her party's leadership race to succeed François Legault, faces a packed agenda. The session follows Legault's abrupt prorogation of the assembly in early April amid the CAQ leadership contest, which halted multiple bills. Government House Leader François Bonnardel said the CAQ plans to revive all stalled legislation, including measures introduced by opposition parties, and aims to pass as many as possible. Among new proposals is a bill to block the province's electoral commission from eliminating ridings in Montreal and on the Gaspé Peninsula.

A priority bill would allow victims of domestic violence to access their intimate partner's criminal record related to conjugal violence, similar to laws in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Domestic Security Minister Ian Lafrenière stated last week that a draft is in preparation. Fréchette campaigned on the measure and pledged additional resources for...