Groups
Although it is an integral part of the election process in Québec, the notion of political party is all but absent from the proceedings of the Assemblée nationale and the parliamentary committees. In fact, within this context political parties are referred to as parliamentary groups as defined in the Standing Orders of the National Assembly.
Conditions for Recognition
The Standing Orders state that in order to be recognized as a parliamentary group, a political party must, in the most recent general election
- elect at least 12 Members to the Assemblée, or
- have received at least 20% of the popular vote
A Member belonging to a party that does not qualify as a parliamentary group may
- sit as an independent Member
- join a recognized group
Sitting party leaders also lead their respective parliamentary groups. Furthermore, parliamentary usage and custom dictates that group leaders have precedence over other MNAs. They are given a privileged right to speak in most debates under the Standing Orders.
Names Given to Groups
The group with the most elected Members is known as the group forming the Government. The group which has the second highest number of elected Members is referred to as the group forming the Official Opposition.
If the third-ranked party fulfills the conditions for recognition as a parliamentary group, it becomes the second opposition group, and so on.
Advantages Granted to Groups
The Standing Orders give certain advantages to parliamentary groups, in particular with regard to speaking time during debates and in parliamentary committees.
This is an important advantage, since speaking time is the main resource available to MNAs during parliamentary proceedings. More speaking time means more opportunities to present an opinion or deliver a message.
Additional Information