It is Thursday that François Legault will designate which of his 89 deputies will be part of the holy of holies of his government. It is inevitable that a number of worthy candidates will be left out and that ministers of the former government may be dismissed, so many bruised egos who will lick their wounds. The choice, when there are too many, can become a real embarrassment for a prime minister.
François Legault would, however, be ill-advised to give in to the temptation to multiply ministerial functions in order to water down responsibilities and create unproductive overlaps. In 2002, PQ Premier Bernard Landry had fallen into this trap with the formation of a bloated 36-member cabinet, including 17 delegate ministers and four secretaries of state, whose purpose one could wonder except buy peace.
The current Council of Ministers is made up of 26 members. Three ministers chose not to stand again: Marguerite Blais, responsible for the Elders; Danielle McCann, in Higher Education; and Nadine Girault, in International Relations. All those who remained were re-elected: François Legault will have to deal with them. In addition, there are a few big names and candidates of interest that the chief caquist has recruited. We think of Suzanne Roy, the former president of the Union of Quebec Municipalities; to the former CEO of the CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, Sonia Bélanger; to former Ubisoft manager Céline Haytayan; to the first Aboriginal woman elected to the National Assembly, Kateri Champagne Jourdain.
Let’s not forget the former journalist Martine Biron. When François Legault presented her as a candidate in Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, he spoke of their common passion: education. And there is the essential Bernard Drainville. When François Legault was at his side to announce his candidacy in Lévis, the chief caquiste spoke of energy and natural resources. Obviously, that was before Pierre Fitzgibbon’s appetites showed up.
In 2018, the new prime minister had to form his cabinet with elected officials without ministerial experience and, often, with novices who had never been deputies. It comes with an element of unknown. Despite undeniable skills on paper, MarieChantal Chassé only served a few months as Minister of the Environment. Danielle McCann broke her teeth at Health, collecting the Higher Education consolation prize. Faithful Sylvie D’Amours stumbled at Aboriginal Affairs.
In 2020, this part of the unknown is considerably reduced. The Prime Minister can count on pillars such as Christian Dubé, in Health and Social Services, Eric Girard, who cannot be imagined being entrusted with anything other than Finance, and the already Super Minister of the Economy and of Innovation, Pierre Fitzgibbon. We must also take into account Sonia LeBel, currently President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for Canadian Relations, who could find herself elsewhere — in Education, some have suggested — as well as Simon Jolin-Barrette, who was still House Leader on Wednesday and Justice Ministry. With 41% of elected caquistes who are women, reaching the parity zone within the cabinet should not cause any difficulties.
In 2018, the CAQ government enjoyed a novelty effect; he also fulfilled, despite the pandemic, an honorable number of his electoral promises. But major commitments have remained on hold. This is the case in health, where Christian Dubé has promised to carry out a “refoundation” of the system. Difficulties abound: lack of first line, serious delays in surgical interventions and diagnostic tests, shortage of nurses. In this regard, it seems that everyone is jostling at the gate to lend a hand to the minister. Already, Lionel Carmant, specializing in mental health, is Minister Delegate. Ex-nurse Shirley Dorismond wants to be a starter and Sonia Bélanger will no doubt want to play an important role.
In the environment, the Legault government will have to show more determination. In terms of immigration, he has a whole hill to climb and must change his tune. He would need a “clientele” minister, a good communicator capable of addressing people without antagonizing them. Some see the current Minister of Families, Mathieu Lacombe, in this delicate role.
Finally, there remains the priority of priorities: education. This portfolio requires a strong incumbent, capable of fueling reflection – have we not talked about holding the Estates General? — and to repair the faults of a system which lacks teachers and which cannot be left at the mercy of theoreticians and their chapels.