Premier Couillard adds more “youthful air” as he shuffles cabinet
A new cabinet has been created by Premier Phillippe Couillard who had earlier remarked on the need to inject more youthful energy into his party. This is coming at about a year before the next provincial election.
With the inclusion of six new ministers and about double the number of ministers under 45, the new cabinet differs is reasonably larger and younger. The previous cabinet had more than a third of ministers that were over the age of 60, and over half were 55-plus.
Gender parity was also addressed, as women now make up about 47 percent of his cabinet.
Amongst the numerous changes, Dominique Anglade would now occupy a new position as she was promoted to the position of deputy premier. This she would combine with her current role as the minister of economy, science and innovation.
André Fortin, the 35 year old cabinet newbie occupies the rather sensitive role of being transportation minister, while Kathleen Weil is the minister responsible for relations with English-speaking Quebecers.
“Today, this promise is fulfilled,” said Couillard with regards to Anglophones. “You are not only an integral part of Quebec, this is your home.”
The complete list of the new cabinet is given below:
- Philippe Couillard – Premier, Minister responsible for Youth Issues, Minister responsible for the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region
- Dominique Anglade – Deputy Premier (New), Minister of Economy, Science and Innovation, Minister responsible for the Digital Strategy
- Pierre Arcand – President of the Treasury Board (New), Minister responsible for Government Administration and Ongoing Program Review (New), Minister responsible for the Cote Nord
- Gaetan Barrette – Minister of Health and Social Services
- Stephane Billette – Minister for Small and Medium Businesses, streamlining regulations, and regional economic development (New)
- François Blais – Minister of Employment and Social Solidarity
- Luc Blanchette – Minister of Forests, Wildlife and Parks, Minister responsible for the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region and the Nord-du-Québec region
- Julie Boulet– Minister of Tourism, Minister responsible for the Mauricie region
- Francine Charbonneau– Minister responsible for Seniors and Anti-Bullying, Minister responsible for the Laval region
- Lucie Charlebois – Minister for Rehabilitation, Youth Protection, Public Health and Healthy Living, Minister responsible for the Montérégie region
- Martin Coiteux – Minister of Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy, Minister of Public Security, Minister responsible for the Montréal region
- Jean D’Amour – Minister for Maritime Affairs, Minister responsible for the Bas-Saint-Laurent region
- Hélène David – Minister responsible for Higher Education, Minister responsible for the Status of Women (New)
- André Fortin – Minister of Transport, Sustainable Mobility and Transport Electrification
- Luc Fortin – Minister of Families (New), Minister responsible for the Estrie region
- Jean-Marc Fournier – Minister responsible for Canadian Relations and the Canadian Francophonie, Government House Leader
- David Heurtel – Minister of Immigration, Diversity and Inclusiveness (New)
- Geoffrey Kelley – Minister responsible for Native Affairs
- Carlos J. Leitao – Minister of Finance
- Laurent Lessard – Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Minister responsible for the Centre-du-Québec region
- Isabelle Melançon – Minister of Sustainable Development, the Environment and the Fight Against Climate Change (New)
- Marie Montpetit – Minister of Culture and Communications (New), Minister responsible for the Protection and Promotion of the French Language (New)
- Pierre Moreau – Minister responsible for the Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine region (New), Minister responsible for the Plan Nord (New)
- Robert Poeti – Ministre responsible for the Integrity of Public Markets and Digital Resources (New)
- Sebastien Proulx– Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports, Minister responsible for the Capitale-Nationale region (New)
- Christine St-Pierre – Minister of International Relations and La Francophonie, Minister responsible for the Laurentides region
- Lise Theriault – Minister responsible for Consumer Protection and Housing (New), Minister responsible for the Lanaudière region
- Veronyque Tremblay– Junior Minister for Transportation (New)
- Stephanie Vallée – Minister of Justice, Minister responsible for the Outaouais region
- Dominique Vien – Minister responsible for Labour, Deputy Government House Leader, Minister responsible for the Chaudière-Appalaches region
- Kathleen Weil– Minister responsible for Access to Information and the Reform of Democratic Institutions (New), Minister responsible for Relations with English-speaking Quebecers (New)
- Nicole Menard – Chief Government Whip (New)
- Filomena Rotiroti– Chair of the Government Caucus (New)