QUEBEC -- There was a kind of hush at the Quebec legislature when it resumed sitting Tuesday after its summer break.

Members of the national assembly voted unanimously in favour of a motion to stop applauding during the daily question period.

The motion, which was presented by the Parti Quebecois, was approved by a vote of 116-0 and went into effect immediately.

The legislature was eerily silent after PQ Leader Pierre Karl Peladeau's first question to Premier Philippe Couillard about education cuts.

Government house leader Jean-Marc Fournier spoke earlier in favour of the no-applause motion, saying it applies to everyone.

"We will all have to make an effort, myself being the first -- and I admit that," he told fellow members of the legislature.

Speaker Jacques Chagnon said eliminating applause from all sides will allow more questions to be raised.

"If we spend less time congratulating ourselves on one side or the other, we'll have more time at the end of the day, at the end of the week and at the end of the session to ask questions, he said after the vote was taken.

The session will play out against the backdrop of what could well be protracted contract negotiations between the government and public-sector unions.

The Liberals have 70 members in the 125-seat national assembly, compared with 29 for the PQ and 20 for the Coalition for Quebec's Future.

Quebec solidaire has three seats, there is one Independent and two ridings are vacant.

Quebecers are expected to next go to the polls in the fall of 2018.