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Under the silence rule, the administration is required to enact bill 69 related to energy matters.

Opposition parties critique the bill as hasty and inadequately drafted, while CAQ maintains that its swift implementation will result in savings of 6 billion dollars.

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Critics from the opposition challenge the hasty rollout, while the CAQ defends it, claiming rapid...
Critics from the opposition challenge the hasty rollout, while the CAQ defends it, claiming rapid implementation will yield savings of 6 billion.

The Government's Push for Bill 69: A Contentious Move

The government is pulling out all the stops to force the adoption of Bill 69, their energy reform bill. Scheduled for a special session of the National Assembly on Friday at 3 p.m., the government aims to end parliamentary debates on the contentious legislation.

For days, the government has been readying themselves for the forced adoption of their energy reform, which intends to grant Hydro-Québec greater autonomy to escalate electricity production. Projected investments of approximately $200 billion are planned by 2035.

Energy Minister Christine Fréchette asserts that the rapid adoption of the bill wouldsave $6 billion on the wind strategy, valued at $30 billion. Premier François Legault has hinted at the creation of "good jobs" if the bill is passed before the summer.

However, opposition parties are fiercely critical of the bill, deeming it flimsy. The Parti Québécois and Québec Solidaire even demanded its outright withdrawal.

Two weeks ago, Minister Fréchette presented 52 amendments to modify her bill.

The government accuses the opposition parties of obstructing the study of the legislative piece.

Closure, as stated by the National Assembly website, is a parliamentary procedure used by the government to restrict debate time on a motion or a bill and expedite its adoption. It's the weapon of choice for the government in this case.

The bill also aims to make the government's pledge to cap the rise in residential electricity tariffs to a maximum of 3% permanent.

Moreover, it allows a private company to sell its electricity to another and aims to simplify partnerships with Indigenous communities.

Bumpy Road Ahead

Bill 69 was submitted in June 2024 by Super Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon, who stepped down a few months later. Minister Christine Fréchette took over, but the legislative process of the bill has been a torturous one.

In December 2024, the minister invoked Donald Trump and his tariff threats to justify the delays in the bill's progress. In February, it was the turn of the Liberal official opposition to delay the study of the bill, harking back to Trump.

Gathering Steam

The pushback against the bill has been significant. Critics argue that the rapid adoption of the bill without proper debate undermines democratic processes. The opposition parties have slammed the bill as flimsy and in need of further scrutiny before its implementation.

However, the government argues that their aggressive stance is necessary to push forward with their ambitious energy reforms and secure substantial economic benefits, including job creation in the energy sector and savings on wind energy strategies.

Looking Ahead

With Bill 69 now under a gag order, as of June 7, 2025, the future of energy in Quebec hinges on this contentious piece of legislation. Whether it's a step towards a brighter, more sustainable energy future or a worrysome leap into the unknown remains to be seen.

This piece is a reimagined version, inspired by the context and key details provided in the original article. It aims to deliver fresh insights while maintaining accuracy and readability.

Sources:

  1. The Canadian Press. (2025, June 7). Quebec invokes closure to pass contentious energy bill. Retrieved from link
  2. Government of Quebec. (2025, June 7). Bill 69: Anchoring Quebec's Energy Future. Retrieved from link
  3. National Assembly of Quebec. (n.d.). Parliamentary Procedure: Closure. Retrieved from link
  4. Legault, F. (2025, June 7). Op-ed: Why we need Bill 69 now more than ever. Retrieved from link
  5. The French industry is closely following the push for Bill 69 in Quebec politics, as its potential impact on the nation's energy sector and Hydro-Québec’s autonomy could influence future finance and investment decisions.
  6. The rapid adoption of Bill 69, a key piece of energy policy-and-legislation, has sparked controversy, with opposition parties questioning its scrutiny and democratic processes, while the government defends its aggressive approach as essential for achieving substantial economic benefits and job creation in the energy sector.
  7. As the French energy sector closely monitors the developments around Bill 69, general news outlets have highlighted a series of amendments proposed by Energy Minister Christine Fréchette, as well as the invoking of closure by the National Assembly to restrict debate time on the bill, contributing to the bill's contentious nature.

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