CAQ leadership race: Christine Fréchette outlines her vision for Quebec

Christine Frechette held her first rally in Boucherville, entering the race with backing from 13 ministers against Bernard Drainville.

Leadership hopeful Christine Fréchette laid out her vision for Quebec on Saturday afternoon during her first major rally before party members.

“Serving Quebec, for me, is more than a political commitment, it’s a matter of the heart,” she told the crowd, standing on stage with the ministers supporting her.

Fréchette held her first rally at a hotel in Boucherville, in the Montérégie region, just hours before the deadline to enter the party’s leadership race.

Welcomed with applause, the MNA for Sanguinet did not hesitate to attack the “old parties,” which she accused of sowing division.

Referring to the current climate and Quebecers’ dissatisfaction, Fréchette said she wants to be premier because “Quebec is at a turning point.”

“The answer to these collective challenges cannot and must not be division,” she argued.

“I want to be recognized for my results rather than for flashy stunts or mood swings.”

As her first campaign commitment, Fréchette promised to reimburse the welcome tax for first-time homebuyers to support access to home ownership.

On the economic front, the candidate says she wants to support small and medium-sized businesses and introduce Quebec-specific criteria in public tenders.

Reviving the CAQ

Fréchette currently has the wind at her back, with about 30 endorsements, including 13 ministers in the Legault government.

One of her earliest supporters, Public Security Minister Ian Lafrenière, was among those at the rally.

He says Fréchette is the “right person” to help the Coalition avenir Québec rebuild.

Lafrenière added that he has been contacted by people who are not CAQ members but decided to buy party memberships after the candidate’s comments about the third-link project.

Earlier this week, Fréchette proposed returning to an eastern route with a toll and pursuing the third link in partnership with the private sector.

“They were happy to see a decision that was pragmatic and well thought-out, that’s exactly the kind of leader we want,” Lafrenière said.

For Immigration Minister Jean-François Roberge, the former economy minister “embodies the renewal we need.”

“A rigorous woman who can weather a storm, who listens and can bring together people from different backgrounds,” he said.

Environment Minister Benoit Charette believes she is best positioned to lead the party into the provincial election.

“She allows the coalition to hope it can be competitive again on the political landscape,” he said.

“Not only are we bringing back people who may have drifted away in recent years for various reasons, we’re sparking curiosity among people who had never been involved with the coalition,” added Charette, who is also one of the CAQ’s founders.

The other leadership contender, Bernard Drainville, currently has the support of 13 CAQ MNAs.

By Audrey Sanikopoulos

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Feb. 21, 2026.