(Quebec) After listening to the members of his Caucus for long hours Thursday, François Legault concludes that they rank behind him to regain the confidence of the voters and “realign” his government by the 2026 elections.
“I consider myself really lucky to have a beautiful family, a beautiful team of 86 deputies in all regions of Quebec who gave me all kinds of ideas. We really got to work and I felt that they are ready to fight with me, “launched the Prime Minister with enthusiasm, leaving an extraordinary meeting of his caucus which will have lasted all day.
The unusual exercise occurs on the eve of a ministerial reshuffle and after a spectacular beating in Arthabaska. On Wednesday, he met the Council of Ministers for more than five hours. François Legault asked his deputies to give him the time just to make “corrections” necessary in the hope of appeasing the discontent and the “frustration” towards his government.
Photo Edouard Plante-Fréchette, the press
François Legault
“Everyone is behind the chief,” said the deputy of Chauveau, Sylvain Lévesque, after this meeting at the top. The deputies were also smiling when they left. Some looked relieved. Mr. Legault showed “a big opening” as to the messages delivered by the deputies, reported Mr. Lévesque. “We don’t have our heads in the sand. And we are looking at what we are going to do ”to restart the party, he added.
“The CAQ is united,” said the deputy for Saint-Hyacinthe, Chantal Soucy. “We are a very numerous caucus and it is very rare that there is discord […] And it gives us strength for the future, ”she said. According to the deputy of Côte-du-Sud, Mathieu Rivest, “there was no discussion on the subject” of the leadership of Mr. Legault. “To meet in a team and to say the real business […] It was extraordinary and we get out swollen in block, “he said.
“Just perfect,” summed up the elected representative of Vimont, Valérie Schmaltz. “” [On a] A Prime Minister that we really support. Nothing negative to say, ”she insisted. The MP of Montmorency, Jean-François Simard, even said that it is “one of the best caucus” to which he attended. “It’s been a long time since we should have had a good caucus like that,” said Kariane Bourassa, deputy for Charlevoix-Côte-de-Beaupré.
An “electroshock” and expectations
For the Minister responsible for the Seniors, Sonia Bélanger, the stinging defeat in Arthabaska was a “good electroshococo” for Caquis troops. “I think it helps to think differently, I’m very happy, honestly. It is very positive and I think that it gives us all the energy to continue doing things differently, “she said, explaining that there will be” a sequel “to this stir-child.
According to Minister Jean-François Roberge, “we had a good post mortem” and it was also an opportunity to “discuss big policies”. “We will soon reveal the results to you, but there are major files that are important that we are going to put forward,” he said.
Photo Édouard Desroches, Archives La Presse
Jean-François ROBERGE
In the morning, some deputies also wanted exchanges to 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 during the first mandate of the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) did not hide that 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.
“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. »»
On Wednesday, François Legault said that deputies had already made proposals 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.
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.
