Finally, “Let’s continue” was not just a slogan. Half of the ministers of the first Legault government have been reappointed.
Posted at 5:00 a.m.
This should come as no surprise. The caquistes have the impression of having been robbed of part of their mandate because of the pandemic, and several ministers had vast reforms still in the works.
In health, Christian Dubé had just submitted his ambitious plan when the session ended. In social services, Lionel Carmant has not finished applying the recommendations of the Laurent commission on children’s rights. In agriculture, André Lamontagne is particularly appreciated. For First Nations and Inuit, Ian Lafrenière was just beginning to develop relationships with the communities. And Simon Jolin-Barrette is far from having completed his robust reform of family law. The economic trio formed by Eric Girard, Sonia LeBel and Pierre Fitzgibbon seemed difficult to replace.
This is quite a change compared to 2018. The Council of Ministers then only had recruits, with the exception of François Legault and Marguerite Blais.
A source of tension to be expected with Hydro-Québec, Mr. Fitzgibbon is adding the Energy file to his duties. He wants to make the energy transition an economic development project. But will he also think about sobriety and efficiency? To calm things down, Mr. Legault will chair a new committee on these issues, which will include the CEO of the state-owned company.
In the environment, continuity cannot be the only objective. Minister Benoit Charette touts his plan, but it only achieves half of the greenhouse gas emission reduction target.
Geneviève Guilbault inherits Transports. Deputy of the Capitale-Nationale, she will fiercely defend the third link. But she never gave the impression of being concerned about the environment. She will have the chance to demonstrate the opposite with the tramway file and that of the new version of the REM de l’Est, if she is interested.
Only two ministers were ejected: Pierre Dufour, who stood out for his contempt for environmentalists, and Lucie Lecours, who unfortunately did not have time to prove herself. The other places were freed up by the political retirement of four ministers.
If there is a place where the slogan “Let’s continue” is less clear, it is in Education. Mr. Legault said that had always been his priority, but it is difficult to predict what direction Bernard Drainville will take. I’ll talk about it soon.
At least he will be relieved of higher education, which goes to Pascale Déry, a former journalist, who managed communications for the Montreal Economic Institute, a think tank right, then Air Canada, where she defended Michael Rousseau.
Among the other recruits, a few choices seem logical. At immigration, Christine Fréchette, former CEO of the East Montreal Chamber of Commerce and former adviser to Jean-François Lisée, will be able to put her rigor and sobriety to good use.
No one was surprised either to see Sonia Bélanger, ex-nurse and ex-CEO of the CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, inherit the Elders file.
Former journalist Martine Biron will be in charge of International Relations, which will allow her to tame her new profession at a certain distance from the cameras. It remains to be seen whether this ministry will be run as a simple trade office.
A priori, we did not see Suzanne Roy at the Family. But for daycares, you no longer need to write a program. It’s time for action. The CAQ believes that this former mayor of Sainte-Julie and former president of the Union of Municipalities has the experience to reduce bureaucracy and create the places promised. The outgoing minister, Mathieu Lacombe, has not been unworthy, but his interpersonal skills will help Culture, where the CAQ has failed to forge close ties with the artistic community, despite its budget increases.
We can be surprised to see Jean Boulet still Minister of Labor after his false and incendiary declaration on immigrants who do not work. Before this odious skid, it had been solid. And as a former Liberal Party of Canada activist, he’s actually one of the least nationalistic in the caucus. He is given one last chance.
Jean-François Roberge will also be able to recover. After a laborious mandate in Education, his sometimes harsh tone could be useful in Intergovernmental Affairs. We hope that this ex-PQ will be more demanding than Sonia LeBel.
Also responsible for the defense of French, he will have to work closely with his colleague Minister of Immigration and Francisation, who fulfills a crucial role.
Access to Information has been added to Mr. Roberge’s files. By overloading it in this way, we risk drowning the subject. Which may not be a coincidence…
Another reorganization, the Habitation left the Ministry of Municipal Affairs to report to a newcomer, France-Élaine Duranceau. She will have to untie the usual knots with the federal government and be sensitive to the fate of the poor.
Hardly anyone saw Maïté Blanchette Vézina, former mayor of Sainte-Luce, as head of Natural Resources. Even if this department is no longer responsible for Hydro-Québec, the bite remains great for the 37-year-old recruit. She embodies the next generation, and also the desire of the CAQ to dethrone the PQ in the Bas-Saint-Laurent.
Finally, there is Kateri Champagne Jourdain, the very first indigenous woman elected to parliament and appointed minister. It’s a nice catch and a nice symbol. That she is not the head of Aboriginal Affairs is only to be expected – the expectations would have been unmanageable. As Minister of Employment, she will work differently for the emancipation of the first peoples.
For this new Council of Ministers, the most difficult part is yet to come. Because with such a large team, it will become more difficult than ever to justify the retention of an incompetent. Because there will be many, those who dream of taking their place.