Ethics and the economy are expected to dominate Quebec's fall legislative session when it gets underway Tuesday in the provincial capital.

Premier Jean Charest's Liberal government will be forced to defend its record on the economy, and explain what it will do to help steer Quebec out of the recession. Opposition parties spent most of the spring attacking the Liberal government for failing to save enough jobs in the economic downturn.

Political ethics will also be a big issue following former cabinet minister David Whissell's resignation over allegations of conflict of interest.

Ahead of the fall session, Charest said he is committed to creating a new code of ethics for elected officials, and wants to appoint an independent watchdog "as quickly as possible" to review situations of potential conflict of interest.

The Parti Québécois has pressed Charest to name an ethics commissioner immediately and draft tougher rules of conduct for elected officials.

Quebec economy in a tight spot

Deficit spending will be a major point of debate between the ruling Liberals and opposition parties. Last spring, the government predicted deficit spending of up to $4 billion in its budget, with a projected deficit of $14 billion by 2013, given the economic downturn.

The PQ has pressed for a fixed timetable to eliminate the deficit.

Quebec's second opposition party – Action Démocratique du Québec – also faces a busy fall with plans to elect a new leader. Party founder Mario Dumont resigned from politics last year after leading the right-wing party to disastrous results in the provincial election.