CAQ “Super Minister” | Pierre Fitzgibbon resigns

(Rimouski) Heavyweight in the CAQ government, the “super minister” of Economy and Energy, Pierre Fitzgibbon, resigns in the middle of his mandate, on the eve of the National Assembly’s return. He wanted to leave political life next December, but François Legault asked him not to wait and to leave now.

The Prime Minister will not announce a complete cabinet reshuffle on Wednesday. The return to the House next week is so imminent that it would be risky to make a major change to the team. Behind the scenes, there is talk of a rather modest operation, a “ministerial adjustment” that, as a general rule, involves moving some ministers around and not recruiting new members from the caucus. A larger cabinet reshuffle could still take place at the end of the year or in early 2025.

Pierre Fitzgibbon’s resignation comes as CAQ MNAs are meeting in caucus this Wednesday and Thursday in Rimouski to prepare for the parliamentary session. François Legault was tight-lipped about his comments upon his arrival at city hall to meet with Mayor Guy Caron on Tuesday. “We have a dinner that was planned for a long time with all the MNAs tonight. Pierre Fitzgibbon will first speak to the MNAs, and I will meet with you tomorrow morning with Pierre Fitzgibbon to give you all the details,” he simply said.

Upon his arrival in Rimouski, Pierre Fitzgibbon refused to comment on his departure. “We’ll talk tomorrow morning, I’ll be there without fail, and I’ll answer all your questions,” he said before turning on his heels.

Pierre Fitzgibbon’s departure was settled in recent days. During an interview last week, he told Mr. Legault that he wanted to leave all his functions after the parliamentary session in December. The premier, who would obviously have liked his minister to finish his term, considered that a departure in December was late; the subject of his minister’s political future risked becoming a source of distraction for his government this fall. The two men gave themselves a few days to think about it. On Monday, Mr. Legault asked him not to wait and to resign immediately, which Mr. Fitzgibbon accepted.

A small circle of people were aware of this outcome, which was leaked in The Press. Mr. Fitzgibbon informed the members of the Council of Ministers of his resignation on Tuesday. According to what was initially planned, he was to announce his resignation to his fellow deputies in Rimouski, then organize a press conference this Wednesday morning. The resigning member declined our request for an interview.

Upon their arrival in Rimouski, the CAQ deputies mostly avoided journalists. Such a quick departure was not expected.

“I am surprised, despite everything we heard. We were hoping it would be a little further away, but it is his decision, and I respect that. He has done an extraordinary job,” said the Minister Delegate for Health and Responsible for Seniors, Sonia Bélanger.

“I was a little surprised,” commented his colleague from Health, Christian Dubé. “He’s definitely someone who has contributed enormously to our government over the last few years.”

The Minister of International Relations and La Francophonie, Martine Biron, did not hide her discomfort. When a politician resigns before the end of his term, “it’s never pleasant,” she said at the very end of a press scrum. She noted earlier that “it’s rare that we see that in politics, someone who has a background like that [de Pierre Fitzgibbon]also strong, high level”. “He was not afraid to go for it”, “he did it his way”, and “he profoundly changed the way of doing economic development in Quebec”, according to her.

Others paid brief tribute to Mr Fitzgibbon, while acknowledging the significance of his departure for the party.

“He’s a great man, Fitz. It pains me to lose a great man,” said the president of the CAQ caucus, François Jacques.

“His frankness, his openness and his accessibility” were appreciated, testified the minister responsible for Relations with First Nations and Inuit, Ian Lafrenière.

“It’s a great loss,” said Treasury Board President Sonia LeBel. “He was an extraordinary Minister of the Economy. And he did extraordinary things. Maybe people, Quebec, will realize that later with the battery industry.”

The Minister of Transport, Geneviève Guilbault, highlighted the “considerable work” that Pierre Fitzbiggon has done for this sector, but also “with Hydro-Québec [et] with Investissement Québec”.

Rouyn-Noranda–Témiscamingue MP Daniel Bernard described Pierre Fitzgibbon as “an important ally,” particularly “in the Horne Foundry file,” whose contaminant releases have sparked controversy. “I’m looking forward to seeing who will take over on the files that interest me,” he added.

“We must make way for the next generation”

For months, Pierre Fitzgibbon had refused to commit to finishing his term. He kept the timing of his departure from politics vague. The 69-year-old said last week that he was preparing his succession, because “we’re not getting any younger” and “we have to make way for the next generation.” François Legault was regularly forced to answer questions about the future of his superminister. His entourage was annoyed. The subject was taking up more and more space in the public space.

Pierre Fitzgibbon is close to François Legault. In addition to being two former independent businessmen of fortune, they are two accountants who studied together at HEC Montréal (class of 1978).

Mr. Legault had approached him to be a candidate in 2012, but Mr. Fitzgibbon had refused and suggested the name of a close friend, Christian Dubé – now Minister of Health.

“Fitz,” as he is nicknamed, made the leap into politics in 2018, running in Terrebonne. A by-election will have to be called there within six months, at a time when the Parti Québécois is leading in voting intentions.

The electoral projection site Qc125 considers this riding as a “probable” gain for Paul St-Pierre Plamondon’s party. The name of the Bloc Québécois MP for Terrebonne, economist Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné, has been circulating in the region for a while as a possible candidate for the Parti Québécois.

As soon as he came to power, François Legault appointed Pierre Fitzgibbon as Minister of the Economy. The latter described himself as a “bug” in politics; he is a free electron with a lot of frankness. He notably reformed Investissement Québec, sparking controversy by appointing his friend Guy LeBlanc as CEO.

Pierre Fitzgibbon had clashes with the National Assembly’s ethics commissioner. He had to resign in 2021 after an embarrassing fourth report. He had returned to his job after the summer holidays; the purgatory had lasted three months.

For his second term as premier, François Legault decided to give Pierre Fitzgibbon even more power by entrusting him with the Economy and Energy. Two major issues attracted attention: the development of the battery sector – with the Northvolt bet, a project that would ultimately be up to 18 months late – and the launch of a plan to double Hydro-Québec’s production capacity.

Pierre Fitzgibbon is leaving his post while his energy bill is due to be the subject of a public consultation in parliamentary committee starting next week.

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