Headline: Monique Jérôme-Forget Tops the List of Most Successful Lawmakers in the National Assembly of Quebec Over the Last 25 Years
Subheadline: A study by La Presse canadienne, in collaboration with the National Assembly’s Library, reveals the former Liberal minister’s legislative achievements.
Article:
In the marathon of Quebec politics, where laws often take months, if not years, to pass, one minister stands out for her legislative prowess: Monique Jérôme-Forget. A study by La Presse canadienne, in collaboration with the National Assembly’s Library, has revealed that Jérôme-Forget, a key figure in Jean Charest’s Liberal government from 2003 to 2009, has had a staggering 37 laws enacted during her time in office.
"I’m astonished!" said the former minister, surprised by this statistic. "I must have had some great talent," she joked, speaking to La Presse canadienne from Mexico.
Two of her Liberal colleagues, Jean-Marc Fournier and Jacques Dupuis, both equally successful in the legislative arena, follow her with 29 laws each.
Jérôme-Forget’s record is even more impressive considering her relatively short tenure as a minister. She resigned in the spring of 2009, just shy of completing her full mandate. Despite this, she has secured more laws than 136 other ministers who have served in the last 25 years.
"The study only covers my time as a minister," Jérôme-Forget said. "If we were to include my entire career, the numbers could be even more impressive."
So, how did she do it? As the president of the Treasury Board, she was responsible for piloting numerous budgetary credit laws after the annual budget was tabled. Indeed, 12 of the laws she sponsored were related to credits. However, her legislative portfolio extended far beyond budgetary matters. She also steered through laws with significant financial implications, tax changes, and reforms to retirement plans.
"These were often complex bills," she recalled. "Ministers usually don’t get excited about technical bills, but they’re crucial for anyone working in government."
One of her most contentious laws was the Act establishing the Public-Private Partnerships Authority, a move that sparked heated debates about government privatization. However, Jérôme-Forget stands by her decision. "It was about maintaining our public infrastructure," she said. "Politicians don’t win votes by talking about maintenance. They cut ribbons."
In the current CAQ government, Sonia LeBel, the president of the Treasury Board, is the most prolific lawmaker, with 28 laws enacted during her six years in politics. This includes several bills inspired by the Charbonneau Commission, a reform to speed up infrastructure projects during the pandemic, and numerous laws related to retirement plans and collective agreements.
While Simon Jolin-Barrette and Geneviève Guilbault, two other prominent ministers in the CAQ cabinet, have enacted 21 and 10 laws respectively, LeBel’s record is notable given that she couldn’t claim as many budgetary credit laws as Sonia LeBel.
Guy Chevrette, a long-serving PQ minister, is in a statistical tie with LeBel, with 28 laws enacted. However, if his entire political career were to be considered, his record could be even more impressive. Chevrette, a Levesque companion, began his political career as an MNA in 1976 and minister in 1982.
Over the last 25 years, female ministers have been responsible for 354 of the 1,103 laws passed by the National Assembly. While this marks over a third of the legislative output, it underscores the relatively limited role of women in politics during this period.
Image Captions:
- Monique Jérôme-Forget and Quebec Premier Jean Charest in 2009
- Sonia LeBel
- Guy Chevrette
