Legault’s Cabinet Shuffle: Stability Over Change

After months of anticipation, Premier François Legault has finally unveiled his new cabinet. Earlier this summer, he had announced his intention to proceed with a shuffle, presenting it as a response to growing dissatisfaction with his government. Expectations quickly rose, with many observers framing the shuffle as a chance to reset the political agenda before the final year of his mandate.

In the days leading up to the announcement, however, the CAQ began lowering expectations. Party insiders stressed that the shuffle would not represent a wholesale renewal, but rather a balance between continuity and a few targeted changes. The announcement on September 10 confirmed this approach.

Several senior ministers remain firmly in place, continuing to hold major responsibilities. This may disappoint those who were hoping for bold renewal, but it also reflects a deliberate calculation. With only one year left before the provincial election, Legault may have judged it safer to rely on experienced ministers rather than entrust important portfolios to rookies with little time to learn their files. At the same time, the shuffle was not merely cosmetic. Their performance could help determine whether the government can regain momentum.

The stakes are high. Legault’s government continues to face pressure on health care, cost-of-living issues, and energy policy. By keeping trusted ministers in key positions while introducing new voices, the Premier is betting on stability as the best way to navigate the final stretch of his mandate.

But the timeline is tight. Ministers will have about 20 days to take command of their portfolios before the National Assembly reconvenes on September 30. Both veterans and newcomers will be under pressure to demonstrate competence quickly, as the government seeks to project confidence in what promises to be a challenging political year.

Ultimately, this shuffle may be judged less by the scale of its changes than by its ability to restore public trust. Whether this blend of continuity and renewal is enough to shift the mood in Québec remains an open question.

Ministers who remain in their positions:

Eric Girard – Minister of Finance

Christine Fréchette – Minister of Economy, Innovation and Energy

Christian Dubé – Minister of Health

Simon Jolin-Barrette – Minister of Justice and Canadian Relations

Jean-François Roberge – Minister of Immigration, Francisation, Integration and Laicity

Jean Boulet – Minister of Labour

Mathieu Lacombe – Minister of Culture and Communications

Lionel Carmant – Minister of Social Services

Chantal Rouleau – Minister of Social Solidarity, responsible for Montreal and the metropolitan region

Isabelle Charest – Minister Responsible for Sports, Recreation and the Outdoors

Gilles Bélanger – Minister of Cybersecurity and Digital Technology

Ministers with new responsibilities or new appointments:

Sonia LeBel – Minister of Education

Geneviève Guilbault – Minister of Municipal Affairs

Bernard Drainville – Minister of Environment, the Fight Against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks and Maritime Strategy

France-Élaine Duranceau – President of the Treasury Board

Ian Lafrenière – Minister of Public Security and Relations with the First Nations and the Inuit

Martine Biron – Minister of Higher Education

Jonatan Julien – Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility

Sonia Bélanger – Minister of Housing

Benoit Charette – Minister of Infrastructure

Donald Martel – Minister of Agriculture

Caroline Proulx – Minister responsible for Seniors, Minister for Health and Women’s Issues

Christopher Skeete – Minister of International Relations, Francophonie, English-Speaking Quebecers and the Fight Against Racism

Pascale Déry – Minister of Employment

Jean-François Simard – Minister of Natural Resources and Forests

Kateri Champagne Jourdain – Minister of Family

Amélie Dionne – Minister of Tourism

Éric Girard – Minister for Regional Economic Development

Samuel Poulin –Minister for the Economy and Small Business