François Legault's new cabinet includes a few new faces and many returning veterans
CBC
After winning a commanding majority earlier this month, François Legault was sworn in as premier on Tuesday and unveiled his new cabinet Thursday afternoon in the historic Red Room of the National Assembly.
The cabinet has 30 members: 14 women and 16 men. During his first term, Legault formed a 26-member cabinet comprised of 13 men and 13 women.
In his speech after the cabinet swearing-in Thursday, Legault said one of his biggest priorities starting out in politics was education. "In 2022, I have not changed my mind," he said.
Legault stressed the importance of the economy and finance, saying economic growth is a means to the end of improving Quebecers' quality of life.
Legault said accelerating the energy transition, reducing and eventually eliminating greenhouse gas emissions and overhauling the health system to make it "more humane and more efficient" are also priorities that are top of mind for his government.
WATCH | Legault addresses anglophones about decline of French language:
The only words spoken in English addressed the decline of the French language in Quebec — "a non-negotiable" struggle, according to Legault.
"The vitality of French in Quebec is everyone's business [...] our goal is not to take away your rights or services [...] but our goal is really to preserve French," he said.
Here's a breakdown of the 20 veterans and 10 new faces who are heading up the government's key positions.
Bernard Drainville, a prominent radio host, was elected under the CAQ banner this year in Lévis. A former Parti Québécois MNA in the Pauline Marois government, he is known for creating the Quebec charter of values, which would have prohibited people who wear religious symbols from working in public institutions. Drainville also becomes minister responsible for the Chaudière-Appalaches region.
Benoit Charette stays on as environment minister. He was first elected in the riding of Deux-Montagnes in 2008 under the Parti Québécois banner and joined the CAQ before being re-elected in 2014 and 2018. As well as being the environment minister, he was appointed minister responsible for combating racism in 2021. That job now goes to someone else. Charette will be the minister responsible for the Laurentians.
Christian Dubé, first elected in 2018 in the riding of La Prairie, will stay on as minister of health but will no longer be the minister of social services. He was given the health portfolio in June 2020 in a cabinet shuffle. Before entering politics, Dubé was the executive director of the Caisse de dépôt et de placement du Québec from 2014 to 2018 and sat on the board of directors of Quebecor.
Eric Girard stays on as finance minister. Girard was first elected under the CAQ banner in 2018 for the riding of Groulx. and has been the CAQ's finance minister ever since. He has a master's degree in economics from the Université du Québec à Montréal. Before becoming a provincial politician, the 56-year-old was a senior manager with the National Bank of Canada for more than 20 years.
Pierre Fitzgibbon, first elected in 2018, is expanding his economic role in the Legault government and will now be in charge of Hydro-Québec and represent Montreal at the cabinet table. He was the minister of economy and innovation and the minister responsible for regional economic development in the past. The 67-year-old represents the Terrebonne riding. Before getting elected, he was an associate director with Walter Capital Partners.
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