(Quebec) At the dawn of a ministerial reshuffle and after a spectacular beating in Arthabaska, François Legault wants his 86 deputies to give him the time just to bring “corrections” and “realign” his government by the elections of 2026.
“I know you know your world. I know you [les] listened to this summer so, I want you to tell me what you heard, “said the Coalition Avenir Quebec Coalition (CAQ) to members of his Caucus, which gathered extraordinarily in Quebec, a month before the start of parliamentary. The day before, Mr. Legault invited his Council of Ministers for a similar exercise: the meeting lasted more than five hours.
“You know, we have worked very hard together for a certain number of years, we have made good shots, but at the same time, we must realize that there are frustrations. There are people who are disappointed and we have a duty to make changes, “continued the Prime Minister while the media were invited to capture the first minutes of this meeting at the top, at the Le Parliamentary restaurant.
The Caquist chief was forcefully applauded by his deputies who were invited by the Prime Minister to put himself at the table. “We have a lot of work to do before us. We have a beautiful family. We have together making certain corrections. I want you to be frank. I want you to tell me exactly what you heard. We need to realign, ”said Legault.
Before retiring behind closed doors, most Caquis deputies preferred to reserve their comments for the meeting. Others wanted to have “frank” and “constructive” exchanges which will result in change. “It’s beautiful to have a discussion, but [il faut] An accomplishment of certain elements compared to all of this, “said the deputy for Abitibi-Est, Pierre Dufour.
The one who was Minister of Forests, Wildlife and Parks in the first mandate of the CAQ did not hide only certain files such as procrastination on the third link, access to health services in the regions and the absence of a regional minister in Abitibi-Témiscamingue have “hurt politically” in recent months. He also noted that the population claims “actions” on the price of gasoline.
“Nor should you exaggerate. […] There are a few elements that have hurt over time and from there, you have to see how we can [se] Refocus, ”nuanced the deputy. However, he did not want to confirm if he will be a candidate in the 2026 elections. “We will start by going through this year”, dropped the one that some send to the town hall of Val-d’Or in the municipal elections of 2025. They are “rumors for the moment,” he said.
Propositions
On Wednesday, François Legault said that deputies had already made changes to him. About twenty of them prepared for a meeting in Lac-Delage at the end of June, meeting reported by Cogeco on Thursday. It was on the initiative of Louis-Charles Thouin, deputy for Rousseau. Some elected officials such as Yves Montigny (René-Lévesque) and Geneviève Hébert (Saint-François) confirmed their participation in this meeting to which the Prime Minister was not invited, but of which he was informed.
They spoke of a “friendly” meeting and reiterated their confidence in François Legault. “Good ideas” have been expressed, said Mr.me Hébert, refusing like the others to go further.
“We had good discussions,” said Sylvain Lévesque, deputy for Chauveau, where Lac-Delage is located.
“The temperature is good” within the Caucus, according to its president François Jacques. “We had a good evening (Wednesday)”, during a supper, and “we will discuss everyone together” this Thursday. “I think everyone has good intentions today and we will continue to work in the right way. […] We have work to do, and we’re going to do it today. »»
“With us, there are criticisms, there are disappointments,” admitted the deputy of Nicolet-Bécancour, Donald Martel. We often talk about it: Northvolt, despite the [filière] Battery with us. But we will correct. »»
What Montreal Minister Chantal Rouleau says he can hear on the field, “it’s not really reproaches, people want us to go even further, and we work on it”.
Several deputies have gone into a gale. The situation was far from desperate for some, even if the party is at the lowest in the polls. “It’s the best team, the CAQ. It is sure that the future is with the CAQ! Carole Mallette launched.
For Minister Isabelle Charest, “people want to have services, and we are in big changes. I think we will continue ”. She mentioned changes in “structures”.
“There are things to change, but we are in the right place, we have done very good things and unfortunately, the good things do not come out,” said the Minister responsible for seniors, Sonia Bélanger.
Time is running out to make major changes while there are still in the Legault government two parliamentary sessions before the general elections of the fall of 2026. This is without counting that the Council of Ministers will change its face, including in the cabinets, with the upcoming reshuffle by the beginning of September.
