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<\/p>\nQuebec’s new premier Christine Fr\u00e9chette unveiled her cabinet Tuesday afternoon, made up of 28 ministers, including five new faces and others familiar from the tenure of Fran\u00e7ois Legault.<\/p>\n
In a speech following the ceremony, Fr\u00e9chette said she listened to Quebecers’ concerns amid uncertain economic times stemming from global conflicts and the trade war with the United States. <\/p>\n
“Quebecers have high expectations,” she said. “Life is expensive. Quebec’s economic vitality is threatened. Our infrastructure is aging. Our public services are inadequate. And our identity must be protected.”<\/p>\n
Fr\u00e9chette said she intends to deliver on those fronts and has put together a strong team of devoted men and women ready to serve Quebec.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe team I present to you today gives new momentum,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Fr\u00e9chette beat out Bernard Drainville earlier this month in the Coalition Avenir Qu\u00e9bec (CAQ) leadership race, held after Legault announced his resignation as premier and leader of the party. <\/p>\n
Fr\u00e9chette made good on her campaign promise to reserve a prominent role for her opponent, appointing Drainville minister of economy, innovation and energy \u2014 the portfolio she herself held before becoming premier. <\/p>\n
WATCH | What to know about the premier’s new cabinet :<\/p>\n
Premier Christine Fr\u00e9chette reveals her cabinet pushing for \u2018new momentum\u2019<\/p>\n
Quebec’s premier unveiled her cabinet Tuesday at the National Assembly. There are five new ministers alongside some familiar faces. She followed through on her campaign promise to keep a role for her opponent in the party\u2019s leadership race, Bernard Drainville.<\/p>\n
Drainville, who re-entered politics in 2022 under the CAQ banner, won the L\u00e9vis seat and became education minister until he was handed the environment portfolio in a cabinet shuffle last September.<\/p>\n
Fr\u00e9chette has named Ian Lafreni\u00e8re as the deputy premier and he will maintain his position as public security minister. He\u2019ll also be in charge of the new ministry on homeland security that is tasked with tackling intimate partner violence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Premier touts “more humane” approach to immigration<\/p>\n
There are two other changes that jump out: Fran\u00e7ois Bonnardel is making his way back to cabinet and will become the new immigration minister, taking over from Jean-Fran\u00e7ois Roberge who remains in charge of the French language and secularism file. <\/p>\n
Bonnardel, who was Quebec\u2019s public security minister under Legault, was kicked out of cabinet by the former premier following the SAAQ-Clic scandal<\/a>. <\/p>\n Fr\u00e9chette said she wants a more humane approach to immigration than her predecessor and reiterated she will reinstate the immigration pathway known as the Quebec Experience Program for a two-year period.<\/a><\/p>\n “We will re-open the program while respecting our immigration thresholds, which are set at 45,000 immigrants per year,” she said. <\/p>\n By doing so, she hopes it will give more predictability to immigrants who are already established in the province, speak French and are integrated.<\/p>\n In addition to the immigration portfolio, Bonnardel is the new government house leader \u2014 a highly strategic role. <\/p>\n Another notable addition is Lionel Carmant who will take on social services and the fight against homelessness. Carmant, who had been sitting as an Independent since October, only returned to the CAQ a few weeks ago.<\/p>\n
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