By unveiling his Council of Ministers made up of 30 members, François Legault pledged to accelerate the energy transition, aiming to make Quebec the first place in the world for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and for the green economy. .
In this vision, energy transition and the economy are closely linked, and also Hydro-Québec’s energy. The expanded role of Pierre Fitzgibbon is confirmed, he who adds the Energy portfolio to his responsibilities as Minister of Economy and Innovation. As if his plate were not full enough, he became Minister responsible for the Metropolis. Montreal obtains a minister of weight to represent it, but also very busy.
It should be noted that François Legault is heading a new committee on the economy and energy transition bringing together, in addition to the Minister of the Economy, the Minister of the Environment, Benoit Charette, the Minister responsible for relations with First Nations and the Inuit (a term that replaces Native Affairs), Ian Lafrenière, representatives of the First Nations and, finally, the CEO of Hydro-Québec, Sophie Brochu. It will not only be up to Mega-Minister Fitzgibbon to make the trade-offs between the requirements of the energy transition and the new economic projects, but we understand that the creation of wealth will weigh heavily.
It should be noted that Benoit Charette, in addition to the Environment, inherited responsibility for Wildlife and Parks, which he removed from the Minister of Forests. That it is the Minister of Forestry who is responsible for the protection of wildlife is an aberration, denounced by ecologists, which François Legault corrected with the stroke of a pen.
We must also welcome the arrival of Bernard Drainville in Education, the priority of the priorities of the chief caquist. He is a solid and capable minister, who will have a lot to do. His appointment is undoubtedly good news, given his style, for those who deplore the growing elitism of a school that has become multi-speed.
Minister of Education during the first mandate, Jean-François Roberge, who had his share of troubles, became Minister of the French Language, a new position since the entry into force of Bill 96, and Minister responsible for Canadians and the Canadian Francophonie. In this last capacity, he replaces Sonia LeBel with whom the Trudeau government and its Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Dominic LeBlanc, had excellent relations, no doubt too good. It is not certain that the arrival of Jean-François Roberge in Canadian Relations means anything other than the continuation of an approach that has produced meager results.
First Aboriginal Member of the National Assembly, Kateri Champagne Jourdain is appointed to Employment, a well-chosen responsibility given the labor potential of the First Nations. She takes advantage of the stripping inflicted on Jean Boulet, who also loses Social Solidarity, entrusted to Chantal Rouleau, to keep only Work.
In his speech, François Legault spoke with new words of immigration by presenting it “as a solution for the future of French rather than as a problem. So, we will focus on adding to the French-speaking majority”. To achieve this, he appointed the member for Sanguinet, Christine Fréchette, an intelligent woman who headed the East Montreal Chamber of Commerce. As 80% of immigrants settle in the Montreal region, it is an appointment that can be defended, despite the CAQ government’s desire for regionalization.
In health, Minister Christian Dubé will be supported by two ministers: Lionel Carmant, who is returning to his duties at Social Services, but as minister responsible rather than minister delegate, and newcomer Sonia Bélanger, former CEO of the CIUSSS du Centre- South-of-the-island-of-Montreal. They will not be too much to ensure the “refoundation” of the health system, but also to deal with its glaring problems.
Two-thirds of the members of the new cabinet served as ministers in the first term, and most of those ministers hold essentially the same positions. That’s continuity. Experienced ministers and new figures who do not lack competence are brought together. In this sense, the new version, seasoned and proven for many, displays a solidity that we could doubt four years ago.