Two high-profile CAQ cabinet ministers have announced that they will not be seeking re-election in the fall, in the wake of Premier François Legault’s resignation last Wednesday, Radio-Canada reports.

Former deputy premier, minister for transport, and municipal affairs, Geneviève Guilbault announced on Sunday that she would not be seeking re-election in the fall, citing her desire to spend more time with her young children. Guilbault was one of the highest ranking politicians in the province for some time, though more recently was associated with both the controversial “third link” project, as well as the SAAQclic scandal.

On Monday, education minister and former chief prosecutor of the Charbonneau Commission Sonia Lebel announced that she too would be leaving politics at the end of this mandate. During her time as treasury board president (June 2020 to Sept. 2025), she headed up negotiations with the “Front Commun” unions during the massive public sector strikes in late 2023.

Charles Milliard officially joins Quebec Liberal race

Charles Milliard officially entered the Quebec Liberal party’s leadership race on Jan. 17, hoping to succeed Pablo Rodriguez, who resigned in December amid scandal after the shortest reign in the party’s history. Milliard placed a close second to Rodriguez in last year’s leadership race, and has been endorsed by 11 sitting Liberals, including Pontiac MNA André Fortin.

Milliard is a pharmacist by trade, and the former president of the Quebec federation of chambers of commerce.

Potential candidates have until Feb. 13 to submit their paperwork, 700 signatures from party members and a $30,000 deposit. Farmer Mario Roy, who placed fifth in the previous race is the only other candidate as of Monday, according to CBC News.

Outaouais provincial ridings to be adjusted, Pontiac remaining the same

In preparation for this fall’s provincial elections, four of the five Outaouais ridings will be getting adjusted for population changes, though the Pontiac riding will remain the same.

Last Wednesday, Quebec’s Electoral Representation Commission announced changes to 51 of 125 ridings. Élections Québec spokesperson Julie St-Arnaud-Drolet told Le Droit that significant population increases in the Papineau and Gatineau ridings were what had driven the changes. Gatineau has 65,000 electors, which is 26.7 per cent more than the provincial average, and will drop to 61,000. Hull will go from 56,200 to 60,500 voters. The Pontiac riding has 55,800 voters, and stretches from Rapides-des-Joachims to Aylmer.

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