The resumption of parliamentary work, preparations for the presentation of the Québec budget… February is traditionally a busy month in Québec politics. With the looming threat of U.S. tariffs, this year is certainly no exception! As always, we present you with a summary of the latest news from the past weeks.
Pre-budget jitters in Québec
It is now official: Québec’s next budget will be presented by Finance Minister Éric Girard on March 25. This budget is eagerly awaited—and also feared—by many. Québec is facing difficult choices due to the size of its budget deficit and the looming tariff threats from south of the border.
SAAQclic scandal: Minister Caire resigns, other ministers under scrutiny
After a damning report from the Auditor General on the failed rollout of the online platform of Québec’s auto insurance board (SAAQ), the government found itself at the heart of a growing controversy. Following new revelations directly implicating him, Cybersecurity Minister Éric Caire was forced to resign. Despite a public inquiry launched by the Premier, the affair continues to make waves. Suspicion is now turning towards François Bonnardel and Geneviève Guilbault, former and current Transport Ministers, who are also accused of involvement in the scandal despite their denials.
Gilles Bélanger, new minister of Cybersecurity
The Premier did not wait long to appoint a successor to Éric Caire. Orford MP Gilles Bélanger has been named the new Minister of Cybersecurity and Digital Affairs. Well-liked by CAQ MNAs and known for his reputation as an efficient manager, Bélanger played a key role in the successful rollout of Québec’s broadband internet expansion. Will he be up to this new challenge? Stay tuned!
Steel and aluminum tariffs could harm Québec
After numerous twists and turns that even the most seasoned Québec political observers struggle to follow, the Trump administration has imposed 25% tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum imports. It had threatened to double these tariffs to 50%, after Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced a 25% tariff on Ontario electricity supplied to US states. Both sides pulled back after U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick called Ford, and agreed to a meeting of top U.S. and Canadian officials on March 13 in Washington.
Ahead of the meeting, the federal government imposed retaliatory tariffs on $30 billion of U.S. steel and aluminum products, which was in addition to the retaliatory tariffs announced the week before. The only publicly-disclosed outcome of the March 13 meeting was an agreement to meet again the following week.
Tariffs on aluminum could be particularly damaging to Québec, which is home to nearly all of Canada’s aluminum smelters, with 90% of its aluminum exports destined for the United States. The Québec government remains on high alert as further tariffs—this time at 250%—are expected on softwood lumber and dairy products in the coming weeks.
Energy board decisions stir controversy
In recent weeks, Québec’s Energy Board has issued two rulings that have caught the attention of observers. First, it ruled that natural gas distributor Énergir can no longer force its customers to buy more expensive renewable natural gas. In another case, the Board sided with industrial electricity buyers by limiting their rate hikes, while imposing residential rate increases beyond the 3% cap set by François Legault. These decisions, which seem to go against government policy of allowing industrial users to pay more while insulating residential users from excessive increases, come as Québec’s energy reform debate resumes.
Santé Québec fires its second-in-command
Just months after its official launch, Santé Québec has dismissed its second-in-command, Frédéric Abergel. With a long track record in the public health sector, Abergel was responsible for coordinating Québec’s various healthcare institutions. Behind the scenes, reports suggest he was frustrated with repeated interference from the Health Minister’s office in the daily operations of the supposedly independent agency, as well as President Geneviève Biron’s willingness to allow such interference.
Recycling reform heading for failure?
Amid the tariff dispute, many businesses have spoken out against the exorbitant costs imposed by Québec’s recycling reform. Companies producing various packaging materials now bear expanded responsibility for collection and recycling, with associated costs doubling or even tripling in some cases. Given the government’s reluctance to intervene, some companies are considering refusing to pay the fees altogether, potentially derailing the reform.
The image used in this article was generated by artificial intelligence