Christine Fréchette to succeed Pierre Fitzgibbon at the Ministry of Economy and Energy

Photo: Karoline Boucher The Canadian Press Minister Christine Fréchette, during question period at the National Assembly, June 6, 2024

Marie-Michèle Sioui in Rimouski

Published at 7:18 a.m. Updated at 10:08 a.m.

• Quebec

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The Minister of Immigration, Francisation and Integration, Christine Fréchette, should obtain the status of “superminister” on Thursday within the government of François Legault, who intends to entrust her with the ministries of Economy and Energy.

Her colleague Jean-François Roberge, notably responsible for Canadian Relations and Democratic Institutions, should add Immigration to his duties.

This “adjustment” within the Executive Council is a response to the departure of Pierre Fitzgibbon, who said he lacked the motivation to continue in his ministerial duties. The names of Ms. Fréchette and Mr. Roberge have been put forward at the Coalition avenir Québec caucus in Rimouski since the announcement of Mr. Fitzgibbon’s resignation.

“My name is being floated for a position. I would be honoured,” Ms. Fréchette said Thursday morning. “If that is the Premier’s wish, I would be honoured. My goal is to work for the development of Quebec, whatever position I occupy.” More briefly, her colleague Roberge reiterated the importance of ensuring the vitality of the French language. “Maybe we'll see each other again later,” he told reporters.

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Christopher Skeete, Minister Delegate for the Economy and Mr. Fitzgibbon’s right-hand man, walked in front of the cameras without stopping.

Economic and nationalist profiles

Christine Fréchette has a degree in administration and international relations. She was the President and CEO of the Chambre de commerce de l’Est de Montréal. She is often described as a pugnacious but discreet woman, capable of obtaining the results she seeks.

Mr. Roberge, former Minister of Education, is part of the nationalist fringe of the Coalition avenir Québec. In his current role, he notably negotiated an agreement on official languages ​​with Ottawa.

The swearing-in of Ministers Fréchette and Roberge is scheduled to take place on Thursday afternoon at the National Assembly. The Prime Minister is scheduled to fly there after taking stock of his MNAs’ caucus.

Mr. Legault appeared before the media on Thursday morning with a hockey jersey signed by player Sidney Crosby. “He burned the league” when he played for the Rimouski Oceanic, he repeated.

During the caucus, the Prime Minister spoke about his energy ambitions. At a cocktail party on Wednesday, he said he wanted to “double” the wind power capacity of the Lower St. Lawrence and Gaspé Peninsula. He also reiterated his desire to convince Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to lower immigration thresholds. “We want to save French, that’s important. We are clearly a nationalist party and it’s important to win this battle again for Quebecers,” he said in the room where his team, which now has 87 MNAs, was gathered.

Since 2022, three elected members of the Coalition avenir Québec have left the party. Like Pierre Fitzgibbon, former Jean-Talon MNA Joëlle Boutin has resigned. The current member for Arthabaska, Éric Lefebvre, left the CAQ ranks to sit as an independent, since he intends to run for office as a candidate for the Conservative Party of Canada in the next federal election.