Fitzgibbon's motivation as 'superminister' was 'waning'

Marie-Michèle Sioui in Rimouski

Published at 8:55 a.m. Updated at 2:13 p.m.

• Québec

• < li class="bookmark">

Caquiste Pierre Fitzgibbon intends to “continue to contribute” to the growth of Quebec in ways other than being a superminister, a position for which his motivation was “waning,” he explained Wednesday morning.

“It's six years of hard work. It's time to move on,” he said during a press briefing in Rimouski with Premier François Legault. Politics, “it was the profession that stimulated me the most in my career,” he added. The fact remains that in terms of motivation, “let's say that I felt a certain decline.”

Mr. Fitzgibbon’s departure does not herald a trend within the Coalition avenir Québec, Mr. Legault assured. “I have no indication [about] other departures. Neither among the MNAs nor among the ministers,” he declared.

Later in the day, two government heavyweights, ministers Eric Girard and Christian Dubé, committed to completing their terms. “I can sign that with my blood,” the Minister of Health attested. Despite the imminent federal election and his desire to one day be Canada’s Minister of Finance, Mr. Girard also said he felt a “professional responsibility” to straighten out public finances by 2026.

Adjustments Thursday

Pierre Fitzgibbon was Minister of Economy, Innovation and Energy and Minister responsible for Regional Economic Development and the Montreal Region. He was due to begin studying his energy bill next week. He will ultimately leave this task to his successor, who is to be named Thursday afternoon at a ceremony at the National Assembly.

Read also

• Pierre Fitzgibbon, a minister like no other
• Editorial | A Superdistraction
• “Superminister” Pierre Fitzgibbon Leaves an Incomplete Economic Legacy

“I'm going to ask you to be patient for 24 hours,” the Prime Minister said, as rumors swirled about the new distribution of portfolios within the Council of Ministers.

The head of government intends to make a ministerial “adjustment,” and therefore redistribute the functions occupied by the superminister, rather than bringing in new members to the Executive Council.

Having been thinking about it for “two or three months”

In front of the media, Mr. Legault said he had asked Mr. Fitzgibbon to give up his seat immediately, rather than waiting until December, as the Terrebonne elected official claims to have proposed. “I would have liked him to finish his term, but from the moment he said he wanted to leave [his functions] in December, I think that, for the sake of transparency, it had to be said,” declared the head of government. “I wasn’t comfortable with that.”

200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000

Pierre Fitzgibbon said he began thinking about his departure “two or three months ago.” Rumours about his resignation had been circulating in business circles for longer. The elected official also recalled that he had initially committed to a single term in politics. “I am leaving [my duties] today with my head held high and with a clear sense of duty accomplished,” he said.

At 69 years old, still having “a lot of energy,” Mr. Fitzgibbon said he intended to “continue to contribute.” To do so, he intends to read the Code of Ethics for Elected Representatives of the National Assembly. It provides for a two-year buffer period before he can get involved in a company with which he has had significant contact in the past year.

“I’m going to read it,” he said of the code, which has given him a hard time during his term. “But I hope to [comply with it].” One thing is for sure, “there are two things I won’t do,” he said. “I won’t be a lobbyist … and I won’t go into the media.”

“Beacons” and a debate to come

Regarding his reform, Mr. Fitzgibbon said he believes “the heavy lifting has been done.” “We have set guidelines and I don't expect there to be any major problems” when studying the bill, he said.

“The real discussions will be after the bill, in the famous integrated resource management plan.” This plan, a roadmap for achieving carbon neutrality objectives by 2050, will generate more discussions among the population, according to the resigning minister.

“We're going to explain to the people of Quebec that, to decarbonize, we're going to need 150 additional terawatt hours: dams, wind turbines, energy efficiency, the dishwasher at two in the morning. We're going to say: here's the cost to decarbonize; how are we going to pay for that” ? he explained. Mr. Legault does not hide his desire to increase the rates charged to businesses, but he says he will limit the increase in residential rates to 3% “as long as [he is] premier.”

Known by journalists for his outspokenness, Mr. Fitzgibbon has sometimes given his boss a hard time. “It's not always easy to work with Pierre. But I have always chosen, in my career, to surround myself with strong people. […] We often had good discussions, but we managed to find compromises together,” Mr. Legault summarized.

“There was no argument. I didn't argue with anyone,” Fitzgibbon later clarified.

His departure from politics precipitates a by-election in Terrebonne, a riding where the Parti Québécois hopes to elect a fifth female MNA. “We have six months to have a by-election, so [the call will take place] within six months,” the premier said of the election.