Elected Caquist Pierre Dufour delivers an ultimatum to Legault
Quebec's Prime Minister Francois Legault is facing a series of challenges as the return of deputies to the National Assembly has been pushed back by two weeks, from September 16 to September 30. This delay, according to opposition leaders, is an "admission of failure" by Legault.
Andrea Laforest, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and MP for Chicoutimi, resigned on Thursday, throwing a wrench into Legault's ministerial shuffle plans. A spot on the Cabinet had been reserved for Laforest, but her resignation to run for mayor of Saguenay has left a vacancy. The new Minister of Municipal Affairs, France-Élaine Duranceau, has been appointed by Legault. However, the possible candidate who will take over Laforest's position is not yet publicly specified.
The Parti Québécois (PQ) has been capitalising on this opportunity, winning the last three by-elections, all in ridings that were previously held by the Coalition avenqué Québec (CAQ). Qc125 predicts an easy victory for the PQ if an election were held today.
The CAQ is currently at its lowest in the polls, and the delay in the start of the session is not helping their cause. For Michelle Setlakwe, the delay is an "admission of failure" by Legault. PQ MNA Pascal Bérubé deplores the delay as a "two-week loss of accountability." Ruba Ghazal, Québec Solidaire House Leader, states that "democracy is not a movie you can put on pause."
The caucus meeting, originally scheduled for September 9 and 10, has been postponed. Legault is considering proroguing the parliamentary session and opening a new one later. This decision has not been confirmed yet.
The absence of a regional representative in the Cabinet continues to anger locals, with the Conference of Mayors of Abitibi-Témiscamingue recently making a statement asking the prime minister to address the situation. Pierre Dufour, the former Minister of Forests, is threatening to quit the party and run for mayor of Val-d'Or if a regional representative is not appointed to the Cabinet in next week's shuffle. Dufour cited a study showing an annual fiscal imbalance of between $666 million and $822 million between the revenues generated by the region's businesses and public services received, to support his argument.
This is not the first time Legault's government has faced criticism over its handling of regional representation. The Abitibi-Témiscamingue region has been absent from the decision-making table since 2022, despite the CAQ holding all three ridings in the region.
Quebec's political landscape is witnessing a significant shift, and it remains to be seen how Legault's government will navigate these challenges. The cabinet shuffle, scheduled for next week, will provide some insight into this.
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