CAQ changes its name to bring Christine Frechette forward

Quebec Premier Christine Frechette announces that she will run in the Trois-Rivieres riding for the upcomming Quebec election, in Trois-Rivieres, Que., on Thursday, July 2, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov

Candidate Kariane Bourassa announced Wednesday she is running for Team Christine Frechette – a move that’s part of a CAQ rebrand.

The party has put the premier’s name forward ahead of the fall election, making it now known as Équipe Christine Frechette – Coalition Avenir Quebec.

“It was important to adapt, to adjust the name of the party, because I’m there now and we have an approach that is different, a leadership that is different,” Frechette said Wednesday.

Quebec’s new premier has tried to distance herself from former premier Francois Legault since being chosen as leader in April.

During the end of the last National Assembly session, she pledged to get results without drama.

“The CAQ is massively trying to turn the page on Francois Legault, and they figure that their absolute best chance of a decent, maybe even good performance in the election in the fall is to put Christine Frechette at front and center,” said Donal Gill, a political science professor at Concordia University and Dawson College.

Frechette’s name is featured in candidates’ photos, but Quebecers CTV News spoke to say the change is not enough to forget the past eight years of the CAQ government, giving examples of scandals like SAAQ-Clic and Northvolt.

“She’s trying to clean it all up and make it look nice and pretty, because the elections are coming up. But people aren’t stupid. You know, once bitten, twice shy,” said Olivia Bergamin.

Ron Heath said it changes nothing for him, especially given the way he feels anglophones have been treated by the party.

“I feel disrespected. I’ve been here all my life,” said Heath.

This isn’t the first time the CAQ has changed its name. Coalition Avenir Quebec – L’Équipe Francois Legault was written on the ballots in the last two provincial elections.