Quebec updates ex-lawmakers’ Circle rules

Summary#

• This Quebec law updates how the Circle of Former Parliamentarians of the National Assembly is run. It changes who can be a member, how the board is set up, and lets the board create a small executive committee to handle some duties.

• The law took effect on November 4, 2025.

• Creates different membership categories set by the Circle’s bylaws (its internal rules).

• Confirms that any former member of Quebec’s National Assembly can become a voting member.

• Allows the Circle to open non-voting membership to other people, but they cannot vote or sit on the board.

• Resets the board to include a president and other directors chosen as the bylaws say (by election or appointment).

• Lets the board form a 3–5 person executive committee; the board president must sit on it and lead it; the board decides what powers this committee has.

What it means for you#

• Former MNAs (ex-parliamentarians)

  • You can join the Circle as a full member with voting rights.
  • You may be able to run for the board or be appointed, depending on the bylaws.
  • Expect clearer rules about membership types and board roles.

• Other interested people (supporters, researchers, partners)

  • You may be able to join as a non-voting member if the Circle offers such categories.
  • You could get access to newsletters, events, or programs, but you cannot vote or serve on the board.

• Current Circle members

  • Board selection rules may change if the bylaws are updated (for example, some directors could be appointed rather than elected).
  • An executive committee may handle some decisions between board meetings, which could speed up responses.

• General public and taxpayers

  • No direct change to public services.
  • This mainly affects a private, nonprofit-style organization linked to the National Assembly’s former members.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

• Modernizes the Circle’s governance so it can run more smoothly and respond faster.
• Clarifies who can join and what rights each member type has.
• Allows broader community connections through non-voting members, while keeping control with former MNAs.
• An executive committee can handle routine matters efficiently between full board meetings.
• Flexibility to elect or appoint directors can help bring needed skills onto the board.

Opponents' View#

• Allowing appointed directors could dilute members’ control over the board.
• An executive committee might centralize power and reduce transparency if its powers are broad.
• Adding non-voting members could blur the Circle’s mission or create confusion about rights.
• Key details depend on future bylaws, so members have uncertainty about how changes will work in practice.