{"id":421262,"date":"2026-01-20T10:58:34","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T10:58:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/421262\/"},"modified":"2026-01-20T10:58:34","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T10:58:34","slug":"quebec-minister-guilbault-will-leave-politics-at-end-of-her-term","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/421262\/","title":{"rendered":"Quebec minister Guilbault will leave politics at end of her term"},"content":{"rendered":"

Quebec Municipal Affairs Minister Genevi\u00e8ve Guilbault announced Sunday morning that she would leave politics at the end of her term, saying the decision had been made \u201da long time ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

Guilbault held a press conference in her Louis-H\u00e9bert electoral district in the Quebec City area, where she told reporters \u201cToday is a very special day for me, a day I have been waiting for for a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n

She cited family reasons for stepping away from politics. \u201cIf I continue in politics for another four years, I risk regretting having missed out on my children\u2019s childhood in a way, because my mind would have been elsewhere during all those precious years.\u201d Guilbault, 43, had her two children \u2014 Capucine, 8, and Christophe, 6 \u2014 with her at the event.<\/p>\n

Guilbault insisted the decision \u201chas nothing to do with current events, nothing to do with the premier\u2019s announcement this week, nothing to do with polls or any other circumstantial factors.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Staff members applaud as Quebec Municipal Affairs Minister Genevieve Guilbault walks in with here children Christophe, left, and Capucine, to announce she will not run in the coming election at a news conference in Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures on Sunday, January 18, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS\/Jacques Boissinot<\/p>\n

Premier Fran\u00e7ois Legault announced on Jan. 14 that he would resign from his position. On X, he reacted to the announcement and thanked Guilbault for \u201cher commitment, her energy, her fieldwork, and her trust,\u201d adding that he understood her desire to spend more time with her children.<\/p>\n

Guilbault said she would complete her mandate, which is expected to end with the next Quebec general election, scheduled no later than Oct. 5.<\/p>\n

The minister had been a central figure for the CAQ for eight years and was known for her communication skills. \u201cI have given my all to politics. I have worked seven days a week,\u201d she said. She served as Quebec deputy premier from 2022 to 2025.<\/p>\n

However, the star of the former minister of transport faded during the Gallant Commission\u2019s investigation into the SAAQclic fiasco. While she said he had only learned of the extent of the cost overruns in 2025, documents showed that she had been informed in 2023.<\/p>\n

Guilbault was reportedly warned that Commissioner Denis Gallant\u2019s final report, expected by Feb. 13, would cite her for \u201cmisconduct.\u201d<\/p>\n

En janvier 2017, sa victoire dans Louis-H\u00e9bert a marqu\u00e9 un moment charni\u00e8re pour notre formation politique.<\/p>\n

Merci \u00e0 @GGuilbaultCAQ<\/a> pour son engagement, son \u00e9nergie, son travail de terrain et sa confiance. Bravo pour les changements qu\u2019elle a apport\u00e9s, entre autres pour la\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2014 Fran\u00e7ois Legault (@francoislegault) January 18, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

During her tenure at Transport from 2022 to 2025, she also had run-ins with cities over public transit funding. Not to mention her numerous changes of heart regarding the controversial third road link between Quebec City and L\u00e9vis, which ultimately undermined her credibility.<\/p>\n

Guilbault first won Louis-H\u00e9bert in a 2017 byelection, marking a symbolic breakthrough for the CAQ in a Liberal bastion held since 2003.\u00a0<\/p>\n

She was easily re-elected in 2018 and 2022. \u201cWe are, in a way, here this morning in what I call an unfolding of the beginning,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

As public security minister from 2018 to 2022, she introduced the CAQ government\u2019s first bill, aimed at \u201cdepoliticizing\u201d appointments. She listed projects she said made her proud, including Promenade Samuel-De Champlain Phase 3 in Quebec City and the electronic monitoring bracelet program to better protect domestic-violence victims. She also launched Operation Centaur to combat firearms trafficking.<\/p>\n

She spoke about the importance of female representation in politics.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201dI am involved in politics to change Quebec, but also for women.\u201d She said many women had encouraged her, stressing the need for role models \u201dwho thrive in male-dominated environment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Before being elected, Guilbault worked as a spokesperson for the coroner\u2019s office. She was also press secretary for Liberal Minister Jacques Dupuis.<\/p>\n

On Sunday, she said she was not closing the door permanently on politics, but that for now, her family had to come first.<\/p>\n

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