Québec Political Pulse: What You Might Have Missed

Between the federal election campaign and the ongoing tariff turmoil at the U.S. border, it’s not always easy to keep up with the latest news from Québec. Don’t worry: as always, the Québec Now team is here to bring you the key issues that have dominated Québec’s political scene in recent weeks.

Budget: record deficit for Québec

Finance Minister Éric Girard has tabled his much-anticipated budget for the coming year. It stands out in particular for the size of its deficit, which amounts to $13.6 billion. This means that François Legault and his team are posting the largest deficit in Québec’s history—for the second year in a row. With this budget, the government also seems to be laying the groundwork for modest spending cuts, which may still prove unpopular, especially with an election campaign on the horizon.

Shockwave: Quebec's credit rating downgraded

On April 16, rating agency Standard & Poor’s downgraded the credit rating of both Quebec and Hydro-Québec from AA- to A+. This marks the first downgrade for Quebec since the late 1990s and represents a significant blow to the government. We have consistently informed you about the province’s growing budgetary issues, and this decision is a direct consequence of them. The message from the agency could not be clearer: confidence in the government’s financial management is eroding, and its continued high-spending approach raises serious concerns about the medium-term sustainability of public finances.

Energy reform: aiming for adoption before summerBefore adjourning for the Easter break, Economy Minister Christine Fréchette indicated she hoped to have her sweeping energy reform adopted before the current parliamentary session ends in early June. It’s an ambitious goal, given the current pace of the bill’s review. Could the government already be laying the groundwork to force adoption of this landmark legislation through closure, as it did with its major health care reform?

Public medicine practice bill: adoption imminent?

Just before the legislature recessed for the Easter break, the government completed the detailed study of its controversial bill that would require doctors to practice in the public system for a minimum of five years. Originally targeting only future doctors, the bill has since been tightened to make it more difficult for any doctor to withdraw from the public system over the next two years. In theory, the bill could be passed as early as the legislature’s return scheduled for April 22—unless the government leaves room for one final round of negotiations with unions before putting the legislation to a vote.

SAAQclic scandal: inquiry commission fails to reassure opposition

The scandal surrounding massive cost overruns in the rollout of the SAAQclic online auto insurance platform continues to make waves. The opposition has criticized the appointment of a judge to lead the inquiry, citing his close ties to the government. Meanwhile, the Public Procurement Authority, conducting its own investigation, noted that the SAAQ has made no changes to its contract management practices despite the scandal.

A Québec–Alberta alliance for provincial autonomy?

Premier François Legault received a surprising proposal from Alberta: his counterpart, Danielle Smith, proposed forming a pact to jointly push for greater provincial autonomy from the federal government. Over the past few years, both provinces have challenged Ottawa in court on multiple fronts, accusing it of encroaching on provincial jurisdiction. Premier Legault welcomed the proposal and promised to give it careful consideration.

Jolin-Barrette jumps into the federal election campaign

Justice Minister and Minister Responsible for Canadian Relations Simon Jolin-Barrette inserted himself into the federal election campaign by getting a motion passed unanimously in the National Assembly. The motion calls for negotiations with the federal government so that Québec has a say in the appointment of Superior Court judges, a process currently managed solely by the federal government. Except for the Bloc Québécois, federal parties have so far reacted cautiously.