Quebec Premier François Legault has moved swiftly to appoint a new health minister for the province, following the sudden and impactful resignation of Christian Dubé. The premier acknowledged the departure as a significant blow to his government.
A New Minister Takes the Helm
Legault confirmed that Sonia Bélanger, the current Minister for Social Affairs, Seniors, and Caregivers, will be promoted to the role of Quebec's health minister. The official cabinet adjustment will be made during a meeting with the lieutenant-governor on Friday morning.
Bélanger brings a wealth of front-line health experience to the critical portfolio. Before entering politics, she worked as a nurse and served as the director-general of the CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, a major regional health authority. She was first elected as the MNA for Prévost in the 2022 general election.
The Circumstances of Dubé's Departure
The reshuffle was triggered by the resignation of Christian Dubé on Thursday, December 19, 2025. Dubé not only left his ministerial post but also announced he would sit as an independent member of the legislature, distancing himself from the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government.
In a sharply worded resignation letter, Dubé stated he was not the right person to oversee the rewriting of Bill 2, the legislation governing doctors' salaries. His resignation came directly after the government reached a tentative agreement with the province's family doctors. Dubé criticized the new deal, suggesting it was closer to the status quo than a meaningful step forward for the health system.
Legault Concedes a Political Setback
Premier Legault, who was personally involved in the negotiations with physicians, admitted the loss was a hard hit. After an initial polite reaction, he posted a more reflective message on social media on Friday.
"I took another hard hit Thursday afternoon," Legault wrote. He respected Dubé's decision to resign and sit as an independent to avoid being a distraction. "Politics is rough on a human level. When we are premier, the interests of Quebecers has to come first," he added, calling Dubé's assumption of responsibility for errors "honourable."
Bélanger now inherits the immediate and challenging task of amending Bill 2 to reflect the recently negotiated agreement with doctors, a file already marked by significant controversy and the departure of her predecessor.
