Quebec Transport Minister Julie Boulet did not hold the provincial legislature in contempt by discussing her road safety legislation before it was tabled, assembly Speaker Michel Bissonnet ruled Wednesday.
Bissonnet weighed in on Boulet's behaviour Wednesday afternoon, following calls from the opposition, who wanted her censured for divulging specific details of her road safety bills on the weekend in several media interviews.
Boulet did nothing wrong because she did not publish the bills, but the way she went about discussing the proposed law is cause for concern, Bissonnet said.
Boulet tabled her road safety bills Wednesday afternoon at Quebec's provincial legislature.
The Parti Québécois had accused Boulet of contempt for leaking too much of her proposed highway safety legislation before tabling it at the provincial legislature.
The bills, built on recommendations from a provincial highway safety commission, propose tougher restrictions on drivers, introduce photo radar, lower blood alcohol limits and increase fines for speeding.
On Tuesday, PQ house leader François Gendron said Boulet went too far last weekend during a series of media interviews, in which she outlined specific measures in the legislation. "The details were very, very, very precise," Gendron said.
The contempt accusation could have compromised the bills' formal introduction at the Quebec national assembly.
Gendron said ministers are free to outline elements of a bill before they are tabled.
But legislative protocol calls for ministers to avoid discussing specific details before the bill is presented to the legislature, he said.
Anyone found in contempt of the legislature can be hauled before a legislature committee to face disciplinary actions.
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