CAQ government | Eight departures force Legault to reshuffle the chiefs of staff

(Quebec) Prime Minister François Legault is not making a ministerial reshuffle for the moment and is making changes to the chiefs of staff including those of Geneviève Guilbault, Bernard Drainville and Sonia LeBel. No less than eight departures, a quarter of the cabinet directors, forced him to do so, a hard blow in this second half of the second term.

“A cabinet reshuffle can happen at any time. But this is not in the plans at the moment,” says Ewan Sauves, director of media relations in Mr. Legault’s office. CAQ elected officials are meeting in caucus next week to prepare for the parliamentary session which begins on January 28.

The Minister of Transport is now serving her third chief of staff in less than a year. After Geneviève Cantin and Geneviève Bélisle, it is the turn of Sébastien Lépine to be the right arm of M^me Guilbault. Until now, he headed the office of the Minister of Employment, Kateri Champagne Jourdain – Jean-Frédéric Moreau, who was deputy director for Family, succeeds him.

Geneviève Bélisle becomes chief of staff to Sonia LeBel at the Trésor following the departure of Fanny Cantin.

As Robert Dupras left the government for the public service with his appointment Thursday as assistant deputy minister at the Ministry of Labor, it is Pierre Tremblay who is now Bernard Drainville’s chief of staff for Education. Until now, he held the same position with François Bonnardel at Public Security, where Émilie Toussaint rose in rank and took over.

Denis Simard leaves his position as chief of staff to Jean-François Roberge (Immigration, French language, Secularism and Canadian Relations). His deputy Hubert Laprise takes charge.

Another departure: Sarah-Maude Boyer-Gendron who worked with Sonia Bélanger, minister responsible for Seniors. Étienne Bouchard, a political advisor at Health, is the new chief of staff.

Marie-Claude Lavigne, who was recruited last year to lend a hand to Minister France-Élaine Duranceau (Housing), is also leaving the government. She is now vice-president of the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec. Laurence R. Fortin, who was political advisor to Benoit Charette for the Environment, replaces her as chief of staff.

New right-hand woman for Martine Biron in International Relations: Pascale Fréchette is leaving and is replaced by Catherine Pouliot.

Jonatan Julien (Infrastructures) also loses his chief of staff François Gibeault; assistant Marie-Ève ​​Thérien becomes titular director.

Chantal Rouleau’s chief of staff (Social Solidarity), Simon Langelier, has also packed up. Mario Lapointe, who worked with Geneviève Guilbault, inherits the position.

“Departures are inevitable, this is the case in any organization,” maintains Ewan Sauves. After several years of service in politics, some have chosen to take on new challenges. »

He tries to chase away the perception of the end of the regime that these departures leave. According to him, “the arrival of new cabinet directors is also an opportunity for the government to renew itself for the year ahead.”