CAQ leadership race: Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette invited to run

Quebec Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette speaks during question period at the legislature in Quebec City, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

Following Minister Christine Fréchette, it was Simon Jolin-Barrette’s turn to be invited to run in the race to succeed François Legault on Friday.

CAQ MNAs Shirley Dorismond and Mario Asselin believe he should be part of the leadership.

“I’m asking Simon to come out of his den and enter the race,” Dorismond said in an interview with The Canadian Press on Friday.

According to her, the current justice minister embodies the CAQ’s ‘third way,’ the party’s idea of an alternative path between sovereignty and the status quo within Canada.

“Simon is a reformer,” she said. “He has 12 years of experience as an MNA and as a minister. He was at the decision-making table as a legislator. He has brought about many reforms and laws. He understands economic issues, and we mustn’t forget that he is also responsible for Canadian relations,” she said.

For the moment, Jolin-Barrette has remained silent about his intentions regarding the leadership.

Dorismond didn’t want to guarantee her support for Jolin-Barrette if he decides to run.

“I want to see his ideas and his vision. For me, that’s important first. When he confirms, I will consider his candidacy, and I will be the first to call him to ask, ‘Okay, what is your vision?’” explained the MNA.

Asselin, meantime, believes the justice minister is the best candidate and is giving him his support.

“I felt it was important to get behind him, given that he represents the new generation, given what he has done as a parliamentarian, given the many bills he has sponsored as a parliamentarian. That has always impressed me,” he said in an interview with The Canadian Press on Friday.

While Fréchette represents more of an economic candidacy—she is minister of economy, innovation and energy—Jolin-Barrette represents the nationalist camp within the Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ).

He was notably the driving force behind Bill 21 on state secularism and Bill 96 to strengthen the French language.

Other potential candidates

On Thursday, Fréchette said she would begin to consider the possibility after receiving the support of Minister Gilles Bélanger.

Finance Minister Eric Girard also said that he was “interested” in the leadership, but that it was too early to say whether he would take the plunge. He wants to know the rules first.

Ministers Jean-François Simard, Bernard Drainville and Christopher Skeete have not closed the door. Former public security minister François Bonnardel has also not ruled out running.

Geneviève Guilbault and Sonia LeBel may also be interested in running.

The rules of the race are to be announced shortly. The CAQ wants to proceed quickly with the election of its new leader.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Jan. 16, 2026.