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PQ MNAs denied access to the legislature amid oath dispute

Sticking with precedent, Nathalie Roy, the new speaker of the National Assembly, orders the sergeant-at-arms to refuse access.

Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon wiped away a tear after he and his fellow PQ MNAs were refused entry to the National Assembly over their refusal to swear oath to the king of England.
Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon wiped away a tear after he and his fellow PQ MNAs were refused entry to the National Assembly over their refusal to swear oath to the king of England. Photo by Jacques Boissinot /The Canadian Press

QUEBEC  — The three Parti Québécois MNAs who have refused to swear the oath to King Charles III have been denied access to the blue room of the National Assembly.

Maintaining a ruling made by her predecessor to the effect MNAs must swear the oath to be legally admitted to the chamber, Nathalie Roy, the new speaker, ordered the sergeant-at-arms to refuse access.

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So when Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, Joël Arseneau and Pascal Bérubé arrived at the door Thursday for daily question period, they were informed it was a no-go.

“As you know, a decision was rendered,” a first security guard told St-Pierre Plamondon, who then asked to speak to the actual sergeant-at-arms — who told him the same message.

There was no further incident as the trio simply left after a cordial exchange of views with the sergeant, Véronique Michel. But they were buried in a sea of cameras and reporters, and St-Pierre Plamondon was clearly moved, wiping away a tear.

He insisted the party is making progress on the matter, noting all the other parties also now want to reform the system to make the oath optional.

Inside the chamber, Roy notes the speaker cannot change the laws as they now exist. She said her decision about the oath is “final and without appeal.”

Moments later, Québec solidaire acted on a promise and tabled a bill to abolish the oath. The Coalition Avenir Québec government has promised a bill before the house recesses Dec. 9.

It is unlikely either can be adopted before Christmas.

This story will be updated. 

pauthier@postmedia.com

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