Quebec Environment Minister Drainville enters race for CAQ party leadership
Global News
Quebec Environment Minister Bernard Drainville launched his bid for the CAQ leadership Saturday, as Premier François Legault prepares to step down.
Quebec Environment Minister Bernard Drainville moved ahead of his rival Saturday by launching his bid for the leadership of Quebec’s governing Coalition Avenir Québec, saying the party must become the “party of real people.”
The leadership race was triggered after Premier François Legault announced on Jan. 14 that he would step down as CAQ leader and premier once a successor is chosen.
In a video posted on social media, Drainville said the CAQ needs to win back Quebecers’ trust by staying true to what he called its core identity.
“To regain the confidence of Quebecers, we must remain faithful to the CAQ’s DNA: centre-right nationalism rooted in our regions and driven by courage and passion. That’s the third way,” he said.
Drainville has the support of CAQ members Samuel Poulin and Kariane Bourassa, Yannick Gagnon, and Isabelle Lecours.
Bernard Drainville began his political career with the Parti Québécois. He served as minister of democratic institutions and citizen participation under Pauline Marois.
In 2022, he returned to politics and was elected in the riding of Lévis for the Coalition Avenir Québec. He served as education minister and then environment minister.
Economy Minister Christine Fréchette is expected to enter the leadership race Sunday in Trois-Rivières. She already has support from several CAQ cabinet ministers, including Gilles Bélanger, Benoit Charette, Mathieu Lacombe, Kateri Champagne Jourdain and Ian Lafrenière.
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