Premier Jean Charest Promotes Sovereigntist in Minor Cabinet Shuffle
Canadian Press
Published: Monday, February 27, 2006
QUEBEC -- Quebec Premier Jean Charest fine-tuned his cabinet Monday, making room for a former sovereigntist who recently won a byelection and moving two other ministers to the government's backbenches.
"Our government is working well,'' Charest said at a news conference. "Our goal today is to strengthen this team.''
Raymond Bachand, who won a byelection last December as a Liberal in the Montreal riding of Outremont, becomes minister of economic development.
"My passion is economic development,'' Bachand, a former president of the Quebec Federation of Labour's Solidarity Fund investment arm, said at a news conference.
Bachand brings considerable business experience to his post, having held top jobs at Culinar, grocery chain Metro-Richelieu, and Secor. He was also a top bureaucrat in the Parti Quebecois governments of Pierre-Marc Johnson and Rene Levesque.
Two other ministers -- Thomas Mulcair, who held the environment portfolio, and Pierre Reid, who was minister responsible for government services, were bounced to the backbenches.
Charest denied Mulcair's departure was linked to his hardline stance with the federal government and said he was offered Reid's job but turned it down.
"There are no small jobs in cabinet,'' Charest said.
Mulcair was highly regarded by environmentalists and had a reputation for feistiness.
Former economic development minister Claude Bechard, considered a rising star in the government, takes over as environment minister at a time when delicate discussions are expected on climate change legislation with the federal government.
Henri-Francois Gautrin takes over as minister responsible for government services from Reid, who becomes a backbencher.
Reid, who was considered a star candidate when he was plucked from his job as rector of the University of Sherbrooke to run in the 2003 election, was not offered any other cabinet job. He had previously served as minister of education.
Charest says he made the changes to strengthen his government before an election call, which could come as early as next year.
One minister who was widely speculated to lose her job in a cabinet shuffle remained on the job Monday.
Carole Theberge, who has faced criticism over day care legislation, was kept on as family minister by Charest.
"She has been the victim, I think, of remarks that have been unjustified,'' Charest said. "She has my total confidence.''
© Canadian Press 2006
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