As session wraps up for summer, Legault vows to lead CAQ into 2026 election

Montreal Gazette

a day ago

Quebec Politics
QUEBEC — Facing criticism over reforms on everything from doctors' salaries to the CAQ government's energy policy and with Quebecers feeling the pinch in their pocketbooks, Premier François Legault vowed on Friday to soldier on and seek a new mandate in 2026.
'It's not easy for all governments in the world,' Legault said at a news conference wrapping up what has been a rocky winter sitting of the National Assembly. 'It's not easy. Its easy to say it's the fault of the government.
'I think it's normal. But when you look at the facts, we did better than Ontario and the rest of Canada for increases in salaries and disposable income. But people don't feel it. They say 'I don't feel I have more money. I count on you to explain.''
Referring to his other challenges, Legault said: 'What's important for me is not popularity. It's about results. I'm proud of the results.'
Legault was responding to a series of rocks falling on his administration from all sides — from the powerful medical and labour union movements and the opposition parties, who spent the morning painting the Coalition Avenir Québec government, which is nearing the end of its second term in office, as tired and washed up.
Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon went so far as to say at his end-of-session news conference that Legault no longer has the 'democratic legitimacy' to govern and called on him to call an early election.
'I think he has to take a long walk on the grass,' interim Liberal leader Marc Tanguay added, in a reference to former prime minister Pierre Trudeau's famous walk in the snow in February 1984 where he decided to resign.
'I don't think he is the man of the situation. I think his time is past. François Legault needs to examine his conscience this summer.'
Legault was ready with an answer. He's staying and so are his ministers because he is not planning a summer cabinet shuffle.
'We got a strong four-year mandate,' Legault said at a news conference in the lobby of his office. 'There will be another election in October 2026. It will be up to Quebecers to choose.
'There won't be any walk (in the grass or snow). I will be candidate in 2026, and I am going to win a third majority mandate.'
Referring to Health Minister Christian Dubé's battle with Quebec's medical specialists and GPs over Bill 106, which would peg part of their wages to their performance, Legault said he's ready to fight.
'The easy thing to do is what other governments did, including that of Mr. Couillard, and backtrack,' Legault said. 'But I think for Quebecers it's key for the efficiency of our health-care network that we change the way we pay the doctors.
'It won't be an easy battle, but it is necessary. I won't backtrack, never.'
He had the same tough talk to respond to those who said the government's fresh attempt to reduce the number of permanent and temporary immigrants in Montreal and Laval goes too far.
On Thursday, Immigration Minister Jean-François Roberge called on Ottawa to cut in half the number of temporary immigrants in Quebec at the same time as tabling a consultation document in which Quebec proposes to drastically reduce the immigration category it controls.
'I know Québec solidaire and the Liberals are going to say we are blowing on the embers of intolerance,' Legault said. 'Listen, Quebecers are a welcoming people. We understand many people want to come and live here to improve their lives.
'But we have moved beyond our capacity to integrate. If we want to protect our language and our values, we have to reduce the number we have in Montreal and in Laval.'
Legault also tried to shift the focus away from the gloomy economic picture by arguing his government has the courage to face the turmoil, including that created by U.S. President Donald Trump with his trade tariffs.
He said Quebecers need a government that makes the economy a priority, with ministers who know which 'buttons to push.'
'More than ever, we need a nationalist government focused on the economy,' he said.
He argued that his new, excellent relationship with Prime Minister Mark Carney, a man he has praised because he cares about the economy, can help get more job-creation projects off the ground.
While political leaders indulged in fun banter in wishing each other well for the summer — it was Tanguay's last day on the job because the Liberals will elect a new leader June 14 — the session ended on a sour note with the government invoking closure to fast-track its energy legislation, Bill 69, into law.
Here are a few of the major take-aways from the winter sitting of the legislature:
New laws adopted: Despite almost constant friction with the three opposition parties, the government did push through several key pieces of legislation during the session. Top of the list was Bill 84 on the integration of immigrants. Also passed was Bill 89, the law to shorten and limit strike actions considering the needs of the population; Bill 98, which amends the Election Act to preserve the integrity of the electoral process; and Bill 90, an act to recognize ice hockey as the national sport of Quebec. The government decided to delay the adoption process of Bill 106 on doctors' wages until the fall. Also left hanging at the committee stage for clause-by-clause study was Bill 94 expanding the ban on religious symbols to all the employees in schools. Work on those bills will resume in the fall.
Many sideshows: Current and incidental events rapidly derailed a parliamentary session that was supposed to be focused on secularism and language issues. It was not to be. Instead, the session was dominated by public squabbling between the government and Quebec's medical specialists and GPs over Bill 106. There were also almost daily shocking revelations from the Gallant Commission looking into the SAAQclic fiasco and even more shocking headlines on the state of the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital.
Bad financial news: In March, Finance Minister Eric Girard presented his spring budget, one that confirmed Quebec's bleak financial picture. Arguing Quebec had to boost infrastructure spending to save the economy from Trump, Girard announced a historic deficit of $13.6 billion for 2025-2026. Three weeks later, the respected Standard & Poor's (S&P) lowered Quebec's credit rating from AA- to A+. It was the first time in 30 years that Quebec got a downgrade.
Opposition party ups and downs: The Québec solidaire opposition again found itself mired in controversies and dissent in the last few months. In March, after signalling for weeks his frustration, party co-spokesperson Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois stepped down from that role, saying he was worn out by the constant struggles within the party.
'The successive crisis have left scars,' a tearful Nadeau-Dubois said.
Things got worse for the party. In the March 17 byelection in Terrebonne riding, the QS candidate, Nadia Poirier, bagged less than five per cent of the vote. Disillusioned that not a single MNA helped her during the campaign, Poirier defected to the PQ.
The PQ itself ended the session on a high note, leading the pack in public opinion polls, but it emerged during the federal election that there was friction between it and its cousins in the Bloc Québécois.
The Liberals end their session with high expectation that the new leader they pick June 14 helps them move out of the political hinterland.
The legislature resumes sitting Sept. 16.
This story was originally published June 6, 2025 at 4:37 PM.