Quebec’s new premier Christine Fréchette unveiled her cabinet Tuesday afternoon, made up of 29 ministers, including five new faces and others familiar from the tenure of François Legault.
In a speech following the ceremony, Fréchette said she listened to Quebecers’ concerns amid uncertain economic times stemming from global conflicts and the trade war with the United States.
“Quebecers have high expectations,” she said. “Life is expensive. Quebec’s economic vitality is threatened. Our infrastructure is aging. Our public services are inadequate. And our identity must be protected.”
Fréchette said she intends to deliver on those fronts and has put together a strong team of devoted men and women ready to serve Quebec.
“The team I present to you today gives new momentum,” she said.
Fréchette beat out Bernard Drainville earlier this month in the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) leadership race, held after Legault announced his resignation as premier and leader of the party.
Fréchette made good on her campaign promise to reserve a prominent role for her opponent, appointing Drainville minister of economy, innovation and energy — the portfolio she herself held before becoming premier.
Quebec’s premier unveiled her cabinet Tuesday at the National Assembly. There are five new ministers alongside some familiar faces. She followed through on her campaign promise to keep a role for her opponent in the party’s leadership race, Bernard Drainville.
Drainville, who re-entered politics in 2022 under the CAQ banner, won the Lévis seat and became education minister until he was handed the environment portfolio in a cabinet shuffle last September.
Fréchette has named Ian Lafrenière as deputy premier and minister of interior security, a portfolio that includes tackling intimate partner violence.
Premier touts ‘more humane’ approach to immigration
There are two other changes that jump out: François Bonnardel is making his way back to cabinet and will become the new immigration minister, taking over from Jean-François Roberge who remains in charge of the French language and secularism file.
Bonnardel, who was Quebec’s public security minister under Legault, was kicked out of cabinet by the former premier following the SAAQ-Clic scandal.
Fréchette said she wants a more humane approach to immigration than her predecessor and reiterated she will reinstate the immigration pathway known as the Quebec Experience Program for a two-year period.
“We will re-open the program while respecting our immigration thresholds, which are set at 45,000 immigrants per year,” she said.
By doing so, she hopes it will give more predictability to immigrants who are already established in the province, speak French and are integrated.
In addition to the immigration portfolio, Bonnardel is the new government house leader — a highly strategic role.
Another notable addition is Lionel Carmant who will take on social services and the fight against homelessness. Carmant, who had been sitting as an Independent since October, only returned to the CAQ a few weeks ago.
Carmant quit Legault’s caucus – and the party he helped found – last October. He was upset with the government’s decision to pass a special law forcing new salary conditions on doctors.
A strong voice for the regions
Fréchette also appointed a junior minister responsible for the province’s regions — Mathieu Lévesque, a new face in cabinet. Representing the Outaouais region, Lévesque was first elected in 2018 in the Chapleau riding.
On top of his role as junior minister responsible for the regions, Lévesque will head a new body, described as a regional council, to which 18 MNAs will be appointed to represent the province’s 17 administrative regions.
Fréchette said she was determined to appoint a minister to ensure regional representation.
She noted each region has its own realities and challenges but they all contribute to shape Quebec’s national identity and international standing.
“With the support of the new council of regions, I am confident that your interests will now be heard and defended,'” she said.
He rose from Quebec’s business world to shatter the province’s binary political dynamic of sovereignists and federalists. But François Legault leaves behind a controversial legacy as he concludes his more than seven years as premier.
Beyond demonstrating she has a new government, with a general election looming, Fréchette needed to ensure continuity and stability. Therefore, key portfolios, such as health, finance, education, justice and the treasury board remain unchanged.
Below is a list of the main returnees:
- Eric Girard as finance minister.
- Sonia Bélanger as health minister.
- Simon Jolin-Barrette as justice minister.
- Sonia Lebel as education minister.
- Jean-François Roberge as minister in charge of the French language and secularism.
- France-Élaine Duranceau as treasury board president and minister responsible for government administration and state efficiency.
- Ian Lafrenière as minister of interior security, deputy premier and minister responsible for relations with the First Nations and the Inuit.
- Jean Boulet as labour minister.
The five new members are as follows:
- Catherine Blouin as family minister.
- Daniel Bernard as junior minister for the economy and small and medium businesses.
- Karine Boivin Roy as the minister responsible for housing.
- Kariane Bourassa as sports minister.
- Mathieu Lévesque as junior minister for the regions.
Mixed reaction to new cabinet
Opposition parties at the National Assembly were quick to react.
Parti Québécois MNA Joël Arseneau, wasn’t buying the premier’s claims of new momentum, referring to her new cabinet as “the Legault government 2.0.”
During a news conference, he also lamented that “80 per cent of Quebec’s budget essentially remains in the hands of the same ministers,” who he says were responsible for the province’s “disastrous management” in recent years.
In a news release, Québec Solidaire called it a “false renewal.”
“When you keep the same team to implement the same program, you’re not talking about renewal, you’re talking about repetition,” said co-spokesperson Sol Zanetti.
But members of the business community were optimistic, with the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal welcoming Fréchette’s decision to maintain some continuity.
“In an economic context marked by uncertainty, the stability of key portfolios, particularly in finance and the treasury board, is a positive signal,” said the organization’s president and CEO, Isabelle Dessureault, in a news release.
Dessureault however, pointed out that the clock is ticking, and the chamber of commerce is hoping the government will act quickly to “send a clear signal that Quebec is a place where it is easy to do business and grow.”
