Quebec Premier François Legault says he will prorogue the province’s legislature and a new session will begin Oct. 19.
Legault made the announcement Thursday afternoon in a news release, but the decision must be approved by his cabinet and it won’t be official until it is proclaimed by the lieutenant-governor.
The premier says it’s time to begin planning for what’s to come after the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The new session will begin with a speech from the throne, which will outline the government’s priorities for the final months of its current mandate. A provincial election must take place on or before Oct. 3, 2022.
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Prorogation ends work on all bills before the legislature, though the government can bring back legislation it considers essential and pick up where it left off.
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This will be the first time a Quebec premier has prorogued the legislature since Jean Charest used the procedural mechanism in February 2011.
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