Quebec opposition not convinced by cabinet reshuffle

The Legault government’s cabinet reshuffle and its desire to “cut deep into the bureaucracy” are far from impressing the opposition in Quebec City.

For Liberal Leader Pablo Rodriguez, François Legault is not “credible” with his desire to deliver “shock therapy.”

“François Legault tells us he’s going to improve government efficiency, when he’s actually caused the number of civil servants to explode. He had his chance,” he said at a press briefing Wednesday at the National Assembly.

“Basically, what he’s telling us is that he’s proposing to find solutions to problems he himself created. So, he failed, and he himself created his own straitjacket,” he added.

In his speech, Legault also affirmed his desire to put identity issues back on the agenda and tackle the “explosion of immigration.”

“On immigration, we’ve shown that he’s more welcoming than Liberal governments. (…) François Legault ran in the last election on the idea of ​​obtaining a strong mandate for immigration, and it didn’t work. The CAQ’s cause has been heard. The response the citizens of Arthabaska gave to the CAQ is a precursor to what will happen next year,” said PQ MNA Pascal Bérubé.

The Parti Québécois won the by-election in Athabaska with 46 per cent of the vote, while the CAQ obtained a paltry 7 per cent.

“A slap in the face”

Québec solidaire strongly denounced the appointment of Bernard Drainville to the Environment Council, stating “that the interests of the planet and future generations come after the profits of multinationals.”

“It’s a slap in the face to all those who care about the environment. At Québec solidaire, we won’t let him down on GHGs,” affirmed Solidaire spokesperson Ruba Ghazal.

While Legault’s speech clearly indicated a shift to the right for the CAQ, Conservative leader Éric Duhaime denounced the Premier’s inconsistency.

“Mr. Legault also repeated the word ‘efficiency’ in both sentences. Just as he hammered it home even before coming to power, before doing the exact opposite over the past seven years. While Mr. Legault utters the word ‘efficiency,’ more and more Quebecers clearly understand the word ‘lies,'” he wrote on the social network X.

François Bonnardel aura été le dernier adéquiste dans le Conseil des ministres de la CAQ.

François Legault vient d’en faire son bouc émissaire.

Aucune loyauté, aucun respect pour ce qu’il représente au sein de la coalition.

Un seul parti souhaite additionner la contribution du… https://t.co/wZWMcf0GMF

— Eric Duhaime (@E_Duhaime) September 9, 2025

“Austerity policies”

Legault appointed France-Élaine Duranceau as President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for Government Administration and State Efficiency. Her mandate will be to ensure that each department makes a significant effort to reduce its bureaucracy.

The CSN said it was “perplexed” by this appointment.

“Within this government of businesspeople disconnected from the needs of the population, Minister Duranceau has distinguished herself by her lack of sensitivity toward the victims of the housing crisis. With the return of the CAQ’s austerity policies, her appointment to the Treasury is certainly not a good omen,” said CSN President Caroline Senneville in a press release.

The Fédération autonome de l’enseignement (FAE), for its part, hopes that the new Minister of Education, Sonia LeBel, will be able to “repair the broken bond of trust.”

“Teachers expect this new council of ministers to show them respect, but also to behave with dignity towards their union representatives, something Bernard Drainville has not always done,” said FAE President Mélanie Hubert.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews