Legault seeks cabinet reorganization to address recent "disenchantment"
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François Legault, Quebec's Prime Minister, has announced a set of changes for the fall, chief among them a revamping of his cabinet. Speaking at a bustling press conference in downtown Victoriaville, Legault acknowledged the dissatisfaction of a significant chunk of the population with his government and expressed the need to realign with the expectations of Quebecers.
Holding court in a cramped room on Notre-Dame Street, Legault explained that the proposed changes aim to address the disappointment that has arisen towards the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government. In a recent survey, the CAQ managed to garner barely 17% of voting intentions in Quebec, with no less than 65% of residents expressing dissatisfaction with the Legault administration.
Education has been at the center of an "incredible" debate recently, with the Fédération autonome de l'enseignement (FAE) demanding the resignation of Education Minister Bernard Drainville, citing budgetary restrictions and impending cuts. Legault refrained from shedding light on which ministries would be affected by the impending cabinet reshuffle, suggesting that the post of Drainville at Education might be on the line.
Comparable to a bolt out of the blue in his political career, this upcoming cabinet reshuffle marks the exception to Legault's steady stewardship of the Quebec government for over six years. Since his move into power, he has only seen fit to undertake one significant reshuffle – during the pandemic in 2020 – replacing Danielle McCann at Health with Christian Dubé and appointing Sonia LeBel to the Treasury Council, among others.
Remaining guarded on the specific timeline for the by-election in Arthabaska, Legault tapped Keven Brasseur, a 29-year-old director at the Bank of Canada Development Bank, as the CAQ’s candidate. Brasseur has been active in CAQ politics for about a decade. As he introduced his party's candidate, Legault underscored the economic and nationalist ethos of the CAQ, making clear that Brasseur embodies these ideals.
The competition for the election remains stiff, with Éric Duhaime of the Conservative Party of Quebec, Alex Boissonneault of the Quebec Party, Pascale Fortin of Quebec solidaire, and a yet-to-be-announced candidate from the Liberal Party of Quebec vying for votes. The by-election was triggered by the resignation of the incumbent Eric Lefebvre on March 16, leaving Legault six months to announce the election date under electoral law.
The event was attended by several ministers and elected officials, including André Lamontagne, Minister of Agriculture, who praised the riding as the host to Quebec's largest dairy farms and a veritable hotbed of entrepreneurs.
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Following the recent dissatisfaction towards the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government, François Legault announced a cabinet reshuffle, remarking the need for realignment with the expectations of Quebecers. Amidst the imminent changes, the future of Education Minister Bernard Drainville remains uncertain.
As the CAQ government faces increased scrutiny in policy-and-legislation, notably in the field of education, members such as Keven Brasseur of the Bank of Canada Development Bank have been identified for possible political roles, such as the upcoming by-election in Arthabaska. This cabinet reshuffle, a stark departure from Legault's usual steady governance, is set to shape the trajectory of Quebec politics in the coming days.
