After greater than seven years in energy, Quebec Premier François Legault introduced on Jan. 15 that he would step down after the Coalition Avenir Québec chooses his substitute.
The upcoming management race is the primary within the CAQ’s historical past, as Legault co-founded the get together in 2011 and has served as its solely chief.
The get together says it’s going to announce the principles for the management race on Jan. 22, and whereas no candidates have formally introduced they intend to run, a number of names are circulating. Different high-profile candidates have already bowed out.
Listed below are a few of these thought-about to be within the working:
Simon Jolin-Barrette
Quebec authorities home chief and Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette publicizes a survey on whether or not to vary time within the fall and the spring on the legislature in Quebec Metropolis, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot
Schooling: Université de Sherbrooke, grasp of legal guidelines; ENAP public administration graduate faculty, grasp of public administration.
Earlier than politics: Lawyer for Metropolis of Montreal.
Political file: Jolin-Barrette was first elected in driving of Borduas through the April 7, 2014, provincial election, successful by 99 votes over former Parti Québécois increased schooling minister Pierre Duchesne. He was re-elected simply within the 2018 and 2022 normal elections. Within the first CAQ mandate — 2018-2022 — he served as immigration and francization minister, bringing within the province’s secularism regulation, referred to as Invoice 21, in 2019. The regulation banned spiritual symbols on the job for sure public sector staff in positions of authority, together with academics, police, judges, and prosecutors.
In June 2020, he was appointed justice minister however retained the portfolios pertaining to secularism, parliamentary reform and the French language. He piloted Invoice 96, the province’s up to date French-language regulation, handed in Might 2022. Jolin-Barrette additionally launched specialised tribunals for conjugal and sexual violence circumstances in 2021. He was returned to cupboard after the 2022 election as justice minister. He has been the CAQ parliamentary chief since October 2018.
Quote: “Over the previous few days, I’ve spoken with a number of colleagues, a few of whom have expressed their assist and endorsement … and that’s essential as a result of the CAQ is a group, it’s the third manner,” Jolin-Barrette instructed reporters on Jan. 21 in Quebec Metropolis, saying he’s “significantly contemplating” working.
Christine Fréchette
Quebec Vitality Minister Christine Fréchette responds to the Opposition throughout query interval on the legislature in Quebec Metropolis, Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot
Schooling: HEC Montréal, diploma in enterprise administration, specializing in economics and worldwide commerce; Université Laval, grasp’s diploma in worldwide relations.
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Earlier than politics: U.S. political analyst, political staffer, president of Chambre de Commerce de l’Est de Montréal.
Political file: Fréchette entered provincial politics with the CAQ, successful the driving of Sanguinet through the October 2022 provincial election. Thought of a high-profile candidate, she was instantly named immigration and French-language minister by Legault. On Sept. 5, 2024, Fréchette was tapped to switch Pierre Fitzgibbon as economic system, innovation and vitality minister.
Quote: “The choice I’m at present making isn’t only a private one; it’s additionally a collective course of. I’m working by way of my pondering, and what’s serving to me alongside the best way is exchanging concepts with my colleagues. I’m taking the heart beat of the state of affairs, seeing how they see issues. What’s their interpretation, what would they wish to see put ahead?” Fréchette instructed reporters forward of a cupboard assembly in Quebec Metropolis on Jan. 21, saying she would announce a choice quickly.
Bernard Drainville
Quebec Atmosphere Minister Bernard Drainville responds to the Opposition throughout query interval on the legislature in Quebec Metropolis, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot
Schooling: College of Ottawa, bachelor of political science, communication; London College of Economics and Political Science, grasp in worldwide relations.
Earlier than politics: Journalist, political commentator, radio host.
Political file: A star candidate through the 2022 provincial election, Drainville gained the Quebec Metropolis-area driving of Lévis, and served as schooling minister till September 2025, when he was moved to the atmosphere portfolio. He was once a member of the Parti Québécois, first elected within the March 26, 2007, provincial election and re-elected in 2008 and 2012, when PQ took energy with a minority authorities. He grew to become minister for democratic establishments and launched the ill-fated constitution of values, which aimed to ban public sector employees from sporting spiritual symbols. He was re-elected in 2014 within the official Opposition, however give up in June 2016 to return to radio.
Quote: “I believe we have to depend on expertise, and I believe we have to unite Quebecers, not bicker, and work with the opposite provinces to handle the threats. So, that’s what I’m pondering proper now,” Drainville instructed reporters on Jan. 21, including he has the inexperienced mild from his household to run however is ready to see the principles of the management race.
François Bonnardel
Quebec Public Safety Minister François Bonnardel responds to reporters questions on the legislature in Quebec Metropolis, Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot
Schooling: Royal Navy School Saint-Jean, officer cadet coaching, recruit camp coaching (soldier), pedagogical coaching in pure sciences.
Earlier than politics: Businessman
Political file: Member for the driving of Granby, within the Jap Townships. First elected to the nationwide meeting beneath the Motion démocratique du Québec banner within the former driving of Shefford on March 26, 2007, when the get together grew to become official Opposition. He was re-elected in 2008 for the ADQ and finally joined the Coalition Avenir Québec when the 2 events merged. Bonnardel was re-elected in 2012 and 2014 with the CAQ.
After successful once more in 2018, he was named transport minister beneath Legault’s first authorities. In 2022, through the get together’s second mandate, he held the function of public safety minister till he was shuffled out of cupboard in September 2025. That shuffle coincided with the fallout from the $500-million cost-overrun scandal on the province’s auto insurance coverage board, over which he oversaw throughout his time as transport minister. Bonnardel later instructed a public inquiry he was stored at the hours of darkness concerning the rising prices with the undertaking for a brand new on-line platform on the auto board. He mentioned he was extraordinarily upset with being pressured from cupboard, however remained in caucus.
Quote: “It’s a lot too early to ask me that query,” Bonnardel instructed Paul Larocque of TVA following Legault’s announcement, saying that earlier than making a choice on working for get together chief, he would wish to know the principles of the management race.
Jean-François Simard
Schooling: Université du Québec à Montréal, bachelor in psychosociology of communication; Université du Québec à Rimouski, grasp in regional growth; Université Laval, PhD in sociology.
Earlier than politics: Social sciences professor at Université du Québec en Outaouais.
Political file: Simard was first elected to the legislature with the Parti Québécois in 1998 within the Quebec Metropolis-area driving of Montmorency, serving till 2003, when he was defeated by the Liberal candidate. He returned to provincial politics in 2018, successful the driving whereas working for the CAQ. He was re-elected in 2022 and in September 2025 he was named pure sources minister and minister for the Quebec Metropolis area throughout a significant cupboard shuffle.
Quote: “The upcoming management race have to be centred on concepts. I intend to contribute actively to it in a technique or one other. No matter occurs, the (Quebec Metropolis area) should proceed to shine and stay absolutely concerned within the main choices to come back,” Simard mentioned Monday on social media.
Potential candidates who’ve introduced they gained’t search the management:
Ian Lafrenière, public safety and indigenous affairs minister, introduced on Jan. 21 he wouldn’t search the management. Different ministers who’ve withdrawn from consideration embrace Eric Girard, finance minister; Sonia LeBel, schooling minister; Geneviève Guilbault, municipal affairs minister; and Christopher Skeete, worldwide relations minister.
Olivier Primeau, a Quebec entrepreneur, introduced on Jan. 16 he wouldn’t add his identify to the record of potential successors to Legault, saying he has private and entrepreneurial tasks he needs to see by way of.
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Jan. 21, 2026.
