Opening Speech of the 3rd Session
of the 43rd Legislature of Québec
An Opening Speech Rooted in History and Collective Responsibility
Speeches from the Throne are rare milestones in a Lieutenant Governor's mandate. On May 5, 2026, Manon Jeannotte delivered the second of her mandate, on the occasion of the opening of the third session of the 43rd Legislature.
While her first speech coincided with the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, fate would have it that this date aligned with another occasion of profound significance: the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2-Spirit People, also known as Red Dress Day.
Red Dress Day: Naming, Remembering, Acting
"Every May 5th, red dresses float in public spaces like silent presences. They do not cry out. They call to us. They remind us that women, girls, and Two-Spirit people from First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities continue to face disproportionate violence."
In her address, Ms. Jeannotte took care to emphasize that this violence does not affect Indigenous women alone.
"For several years now, violence against women has been on the rise in Québec and beyond. It is a deep wound in the fabric of our society, one that calls for constant vigilance and a renewed commitment from each and every one of us."
A Historic Moment: Three Women Leading the Province
On that same May 5th, Québec witnessed an unprecedented moment in its institutional history.
For the first time, the three highest offices in the province were simultaneously held by women:
- Lieutenant Governor Manon Jeannotte
- the President of the National Assembly
- and the Premier of Québec.
Ms. Jeannotte took care to acknowledge this remarkable alignment with measured but genuine pride. Drawing on the words of Pauline Marois, she reminded those present that:
"Every time a woman reaches the highest offices, all women move forward — to which she added her own conviction: it is all of society that comes out stronger. These milestones reflect a society that is opening up, evolving, and transforming itself. They are not abstract symbols. They demand something of us. "
A Call to Unity, Guided by the Vision of the Circle
In a world where reference points are shifting, where tensions are rising, and where uncertainty persists, the Lieutenant Governor reminded members of the Legislature of what holds a nation together: not the erasing of differences, but their place within a shared project where everyone belongs.
"The circle is a space of balance where everything is connected, where the collective takes precedence over the individual, where sharing, respect, humility, and honesty guide decisions. Decisions that resonate far beyond the present moment and must always seek to bring people together, with thought for those who will come in the seven generations ahead.
Québec came before us, it surpasses us, and it will outlast us. What we make of it today commits us to far more than the present moment."
Watch the speech in its entirety: