After crushing byelection loss, Legault says his government must listen, show humility
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QUEBEC — Premier François Legault says it's time to listen to what Quebecers have to say about what his government is doing wrong and to make the necessary corrections.
'Obviously, I am very disappointed in the results of Monday,' Legault said while arriving for an unusual August meeting of his cabinet Wednesday. 'I think i's time for me to show humility and to listen to citizens.
'Today I will listen to my ministers. Tomorrow I will listen to MNAS. I am lucky to have 86 MNAs who listened to citizens all summer. I want to hear from them on everything, including the negative comments they got this summer. I am really at the stage of humility and listening.'
They were Legault's latest comments since his party, the Coalition Avenir Québec, suffered a devastating electoral loss to the Parti Québécois in the central Quebec riding of Arthabaska.
The CAQ's share of the vote plunged from the 52 per cent it got in the 2022 general election to 7.2 per cent as the PQ continues to surf on a wave of public support and anger over the CAQ government's work.
This week, Legault launched a kind of soul-searching operation to figure what his government has to do to rebuild support. Part of the exercise involved him meeting, away from media scrutiny, with voters. On Monday, he glad-handed with voters in a restaurant in Beauport in suburban Quebec City and later visited a mall.
At the same time, Legault is meeting privately with his cabinet ministers as he gradually prepares for a cabinet shuffle that he hopes will breathe new life into the government's actions.
Back in June, he announced the shuffle was coming, a move which immediately put his ministers on edge wondering whether they would get chopped. It is expected to take place some time around Labour Day.
'I started a month ago to meet, one at a time, the ministers to see what interests them,' Legault said, adding some of his other MNAs also have ideas on what changes are needed to shore up support.
'I will take the weeks ahead to digest this,' Legault said. 'We also have big projects already underway on the economy and what is happening with (U.S. President) Donald Trump.'
Talks with the province's powerful doctor's lobby have also bogged down talks to achieve a new contract, he added.
'I will take the time to adjust our plan, our priorities based on the changes which are proposed,' he said.
He repeated, as he has many times, that he intends to stay on as premier and CAQ leader.
'It's already decided that I am staying,' Legault said. 'I will be there for the elections of October 2026.'
On their way in to the cabinet meeting, ministers who stopped insisted they are not nervous about the future.
Asked if has confidence voters are with the CAQ, Education Minister Bernard Drainville answered: 'You betcha.'
'We await the decision of the premier,' he added when asked if he will stay on in education.
'I always said I loved the challenge of this ministry,' said Health Minister Christian Dubé. 'I love this. It will be the choice of the premier. We'll see.'
'It is the prerogative of the premier,' Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette said when asked if wanted to change jobs. 'I am in politics to serve my fellow citizens and will fulfill any mandates the premier gives me.'
'The pace is pretty intense, energy and the economy, the metropolis,' said Economy and Energy Minister Christine Fréchette. 'I'm very happy. If I can stay there I will be happy. If I can serve elsewhere, I will be happy.'
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Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account But that sign is now in the sights of the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF), marking the latest clash in Premier François Legault's drive to bolster French in public life. Since sweeping new language rules took effect in June, business owners have been left wrestling with the costs and bureaucracy of ensuring their signs and branding comply. Toby Lyle, the pub's co-owner, recalls a French-language inspector arriving about six weeks ago. He says the meeting 'soured' almost immediately when the inspector asked how to pronounce his last name. 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