Legault removes François Bonnardel from the Council of Ministers

The Quebec government, led by François Legault, is currently undergoing a cabinet shuffle. This reshuffle comes with a promise to boost the government team and make room for new ideas to move forward on its priorities.

In the midst of this change, François Bonnardel, the current Minister of Public Security, will no longer be part of the Council of Ministers. Bonnardel has been at the center of the SAAQclic fiasco, testifying at the Gallant Commission about his role in the digital transition failure of the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ). Legault had previously scolded Bonnardel, along with his former Transport Minister, for not asking enough questions about the SAAQ's digital transformation.

Bonnardel, a member of the National Assembly under the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) since 2012, was a faithful ally of Legault, serving as chief whip of the second opposition group, parliamentary leader, and minister within the CAQ government. Before joining the CAQ, he was a member of the Action démocratique du Québec party.

Meanwhile, France-Élaine Duranceau has taken over Municipal Affairs, while retaining her responsibilities as Minister responsible for Housing. Duranceau's predecessor, Andrée Laforest, decided to leave her political post to run for the mayor of Saguenay. Laforest had been holding ministerial responsibilities since the CAQ came to power in 2018, first for Transportation until 2022, then for Municipal Affairs.

The return of elected officials to the National Assembly has been postponed by two weeks due to this cabinet shuffle. In the latest poll, the Quebec Liberal Party is currently leading with 38% of voting intentions, followed closely by the Quebec Conservative Party with 27%. Quebec Solidaire is in third place with 8%, while the CAQ party is in fourth place with 11%.

In the upcoming cabinet shuffle, the positions of Minister for Families and Transportation are up for grabs. The search results do not provide information about who will take over these portfolios in the CAQ government.

Ms. Roy, who had previously discussed her political future with Legault, has announced that she will not run in the 2026 elections, freeing up her seat in the Council of Ministers. André Lamontagne, the current Minister of Agriculture, has also announced his decision not to run in the 2026 elections.

Geneviève Guilbeault inherited the portfolio of Transportation in 2022, following the departure of Laforest. It remains to be seen who will take over from Guilbeault and Bonnardel in the upcoming cabinet shuffle. The changes in the CAQ government are expected to bring new ideas and fresh perspectives as the province moves forward.