Premier Jean Charest opened the new session of the Quebec legislature Tuesday by saying economic development will be his priority.

Charest is leading a minority government with 48 seats, compared to 41 for the Action Démocratique du Quebec and 36 for the Parti Québécois.

He is banking on co-operation from opposition parties as the Liberal government prepares to act on a slew of policies this fall that involve areas such as forestry and infrastructure development.

But the first question period of the political season was dominated by heated exchanges across the floor as opposition parties took swings at the Liberal government's economic policies. 

The ADQ pressed Charest on the role of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, the province's public pension fund manager, with leader Mario Dumont calling on the province to step in and buy up Montreal-based companies targeted by foreign investors. 

Dumont and PQ Leader Pauline Marois also reproached the Liberal government for failing laid-off workers caught in the forestry crisis.

Near the end of question period, Charest called Dumont Quebec's national weather vane — the girouette nationale — an expression the premier has used frequently in recent weeks to describe the ADQ leader, whom he says is always changing directions with the wind.

Charest said five years ago that Dumont called on the Caisse de dépôt to intervene less in the economy, and now he has changed his tune.

The comment drew fire from national assembly speaker Michel Bissonnet, who ruled Charest's reference was a hurtful comment, and goes against legislature rules.

Charest insisted it was fair comment and asked whether "weather vane" appeared in the legislature's lexicon of bad words, to which Bissonnet said it does now.

Quebec a 'plural and welcoming society'

Marois, making her debut as PQ leader, was welcomed with a long round of applause before her maiden speech.

She said sovereignty is the "best path to nurture the growth of our country," and described Quebec as a "plural and welcoming society" that includes First Nations, anglophones and all other people who have made the province their home.

Charest praised Marois's courage to lead the PQ, which, he joked, is a dangerous job.

Being the PQ leader "isn't an easy job — it's even very dangerous," he said in jest, remarking the party has gone through six leaders, including interim ones, during his tenure at the national assembly. 

The Liberal minority government has a tall order to fill in this new fall session in Quebec City. 

Charest is expected to unveil plans to attenuate the downturn in Quebec's forestry sector, including measures to reduce the cost of Quebec lumber and buffer the strong Canadian dollar.

The premier will also follow up on his $30-billion infrastructure investment announcement last week that included a pledge to introduce legislation forcing future governments to spend money regularly on buildings and roads.

The premier will also tackle Quebec's Charter of Rights, which he wants to amend to enshrine gender equality and give it supremacy over religious freedom.

Charest's to-do list is contingent on support from either the ADQ or the PQ.

Marois said the forestry crisis would be her party's main focus this session and could be reason enough to bring down the Liberal minority.

With files from the Canadian Press