CAQ Caucus Gathers Amid Leadership Transition Planning
With the leadership race to replace Premier François Legault now officially underway, members of the Coalition Avenir Québec caucus are convening for a two-day meeting in Trois-Rivières this week. This gathering comes at a critical juncture as the party prepares for the resumption of parliamentary work at the National Assembly in early February, while simultaneously navigating an internal contest that will determine its future direction.
Leadership Campaigns Take Center Stage
The political spotlight shines brightly on Ministers Christine Fréchette and Bernard Drainville, both of whom announced their leadership bids over the weekend. As the 79-member caucus, including Premier Legault himself, assembles behind closed doors, much of the attention will focus on how these two candidates attempt to woo their colleagues to their respective campaigns.
To date, Fréchette appears to hold an early advantage with support from fifteen Members of the National Assembly, while Drainville has secured backing from four colleagues. Both candidates must obtain signatures from 1,000 CAQ members distributed across 75 ridings, along with the endorsement of fifteen sitting CAQ MNAs, to officially qualify for the leadership ballot.
Ministerial Reshuffling and Campaign Rules
In accordance with CAQ leadership race regulations—the first such contest in the party's history—candidates who currently serve as ministers must relinquish their portfolios for the duration of the campaign to prevent potential conflicts of interest. This requirement prompted immediate government action on Monday, with Premier Legault acting by decree to reassign ministerial responsibilities.
Labour Minister Jean Boulet has assumed the economy and energy portfolio previously held by Christine Fréchette, while Benoit Charette has resumed his former role as environment minister, taking over from Bernard Drainville. These administrative changes ensure government continuity while allowing both leadership hopefuls to focus entirely on their campaigns.
Legislative Agenda Amid Political Transition
Despite the leadership contest dominating political discussions, the CAQ government continues to advance its legislative program. Various bills that were pending when the National Assembly recessed for the holidays remain on the agenda, including several controversial pieces of legislation.
Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette, who has announced he will not seek the CAQ leadership, remains free to continue work on Bill 1, which proposes creating a Quebec constitution. Hearings on this legislation are scheduled to resume on February 3rd. On the same day, hearings will also commence regarding Bill 9, the secularism bill that would, among other provisions, ban public prayer in streets and parks for the first time in Quebec history.
Opposition Parties Also Preparing
While the CAQ caucus meets in Trois-Rivières, opposition parties are similarly preparing for the return of parliamentary business. The Quebec Liberals, who are themselves searching for a new leader, will convene their caucus in Quebec City on the same days as the CAQ gathering.
Fresh from their policy convention last weekend, the Parti Québécois caucus will meet Thursday and Friday in the Beauce region, while Québec solidaire has scheduled its caucus meeting for Friday in Montreal. This coordinated preparation across party lines suggests a busy and potentially contentious legislative session ahead as Quebec politics enters a period of significant transition.
The leadership vote to determine Premier Legault's successor is scheduled for April 12th, following what promises to be a competitive campaign period. Until that time, Legault has committed to remaining in his position as premier and party leader, ensuring stability during this period of political change.
