Last Opportunity.
Under the leadership of Premier François Legault, the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government is facing a series of challenges as public confidence in the party has declined since its electoral success in 2022.
The CAQ government's recent setbacks are evident in the results of the 2025 Arthabaska byelection, where the party received only 7% of the vote compared to 52% in 2022, while the Parti Québécois (PQ) surged ahead with 46%.
In response to these electoral setbacks, Legault has announced plans for a cabinet reshuffle, aiming to inject new momentum into the government. However, public skepticism toward the reshuffle is high, with only 23% of Quebecers believing it will have a meaningful impact.
Current Priorities and Challenges:
Economy and Small Businesses:
The CAQ government is facing growing demands for more efficient public services, with economic management and supporting small businesses remaining a challenge tied to overall governance effectiveness.
Energy and Critical Minerals:
The demand for critical minerals is soaring for energy transition and military industry purposes. However, there's resistance to the idea of a mine in any given location.
Infrastructure:
Public disquiet related to government performance suggests infrastructure may be under scrutiny, but no specific recent data was found on this in the current results.
Health:
The CAQ is grappling with strained healthcare services, notably a shortage of family doctors. The government's Bill 106, linking up to 25% of family doctors' remuneration to performance metrics based on volume, has drawn opposition from the Fédération des médecins omnipraticiens du Québec (FMOQ), which urges the government to abandon the bill and address the core issue of doctor shortages.
Immigration:
No direct references in the current data about immigration. Given the CAQ’s historical focus, it may remain a part of their platform, but precise current priorities or challenges are unclear.
Identity:
The rise of the Parti Québécois and public shifts suggest identity politics and sovereignty issues are increasingly salient, contributing to the CAQ's growing challenges politically.
Homelessness and Social Services:
Increasing homelessness is recognized as a critical crisis. Montreal's mayor has urged the CAQ to appoint a dedicated minister—a "top gun"—to address homelessness, underscoring the complexity and depth of this humanitarian issue.
Summary of the Government’s Situation:
The CAQ government under Legault is at a crossroads, responding to electoral setbacks with promises of listening and cabinet changes but faces skepticism about meaningful reform. Key challenges lie in healthcare delivery, public service efficiency, homelessness, and political identity tensions with the surge of the PQ. The public demands stronger action, new leadership in key roles, and improved management of complex social and economic issues as Legault approaches the 2026 provincial election.
- The CAQ government's policy-and-legislation efforts, such as Bill 106 regarding family doctors' remuneration, are encountering opposition and fueling discontent, particularly from the Fédération des médecins omnipraticiens du Québec.
- The migration issue, which has been a historical focus for the CAQ, is yet to be clearly defined in the current data, although public shifts and the rise of the Parti Québécois suggest that identity politics and sovereignty issues may be increasingly relevant in light of war-and-conflicts and general-news scenarios.
- With an increasing homelessness crisis in Montreal and growing public pressure for stronger action, the CAQ government will need to address this social service challenge head-on, as suggested by Montreal's mayor who urges the appointment of a dedicated minister to address the issue.
