Bernard Drainville, Quebec’s minister responsible for democratic institutions, speaks at the legislature on March 20, 2013, explaining new legislation to prevent members of the National Assembly from receiving allowances when leaving during their mandates.Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press
Members of the National Assembly will likely think twice about quitting before the end of their terms should a Parti Québécois government bill proposing to eliminate the severance package of a resigning member get adopted.
That would include a member willing to give up a seat to allow new Liberal Party Leader Philippe Couillard to run in a by-election to lead his caucus as opposition leader.
The bill allows exceptions for members who resign for health or family reasons. It proposes that the Ethics Commissioner determine if the reason for quitting is valid in order for a member to be eligible for financial compensation.
The government said the objective of the bill is to end the practice of elected members reneging on their commitment to serve constituents until the end of a term. The PQ argued that numerous resignations under the former Liberal government, including ministers Nathalie Normandeau, David Whissell, Tony Tomassi and Monique Jérôme-Forget, fuelled cynicism toward the political class.
"This is over. This practice is done with. We don't think that someone who breaks the moral contract he or she has with their electorate should be rewarded. The reward for someone who resigns midway through [a term] is gone," said Bernard Drainville, the Minister Responsible for Democratic Institutions and Active Citizenship.
The amount could be substantial. Under the current rules, a backbencher is eligible for two weeks' salary for each year of service, up to a maximum of $88,000. For a minister or opposition leader, the maximum is set at $155,000.
When Mr. Couillard quit politics as minister of health in 2008 before the end of his term, he received $125,000. François Legault, leader of the Coalition Avenir Québec party, received $126,000 when he resigned in 2009 after more than 10 years in office. Premier Pauline Marois received a similar amount when she briefly left politics before completing her mandate in 2006.
The PQ proposed that an independent committee be set up to determine whether MNAs could receive severance packages if they quit politics more than once. Mr. Legault and Ms. Marois said they would waive their right to receive another severance package should they resign before the end of a term.
The Liberals were hesitant about supporting such a bill. They argued it was a conflict of interest for MNAs to determine their own conditions of employment, which should be left to a non-partisan independent body. And the Liberals were upset that the PQ is proposing a bill that would hinder Mr. Couillard's ability to run in a by-election, even though Ms. Marois said the new Liberal Leader should sit in the National Assembly as soon as possible to exercise his role as opposition leader.
"It's quite incoherent … You have Ms. Marois who wants an MNA to quit [for Mr. Couillard] and you have Mr. Drainville who wants to punish those who quit. It highlights their incoherence," said Liberal Opposition Leader Jean-Marc Fournier.
Mr. Legault applauded the PQ bill, adding that it was a measure the CAQ had itself proposed to restore public confidence in their elected members.
The Liberals will weigh their options in questioning the need for such legislation. They noted that since Confederation, only 404 elected members did not complete their terms – and that figure includes 75 deaths.
"The minister wants to discuss it, so we will … But it won't be easy for a committee to determine what reasons [for quitting] are justified," said Liberal House Leader Robert Dutil.