Director of Santé Québec leaves board after supporting Drainville

Regine Laurent, President of the Laurent Commission into Children’s Rights and Youth Protection speaks during a news conference in Montreal, Monday, May 3, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

The race for the leadership of the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) has claimed its first victim.

Régine Laurent, who publicly supported candidate Bernard Drainville, thereby violating the Code of Ethics for Santé Québec directors, has resigned from her position on the agency’s board of directors, according to reliable sources.

On Tuesday, at a news conference alongside Drainville, she said that she had done the necessary checks before publicly supporting him.

But Santé Québec soon after reiterated that “a director must, in the performance of his or her duties, make decisions and formulate recommendations independently of any partisan political considerations. They must also exercise restraint in publicly communicating their political opinions.”

On Wednesday, the Liberal Party called for Laurent’s resignation, and during a news scrum on the sidelines of the CAQ caucus, Drainville dismissed the controversy as “internal procedures” and brushed aside questions raising concerns.

“Régine Laurent decided to speak out as a citizen and she has done a lot, particularly in the area of healthcare,” Drainville said. “I am proud to support her. She is a free woman.”

Health Minister Sonia Bélanger refused to comment.

“If a director takes a position on a candidate, I will not take a position on that. The board of directors has its role. They are capable of governing themselves. Reminders have been made,” she said.

Fréchette and the constitution

The candidates vying to succeed François Legault faced their first turbulence on Wednesday, as the other contender, Christine Fréchette, received a warning about party discipline.

She raised doubts about a controversial element of her government’s proposed Quebec constitution, relating to abortion. In response, Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette pointed out that the entire government had “approved the bill.”

Earlier in the morning, Fréchette had made what was supposed to be a feminist appearance, surrounded by three new supporters, Ministers Pascale Déry and Amélie Dionne, and MNA Catherine Blouin.

But she was led onto slippery ground, where her government is currently butting heads with feminist groups.

The Quebec constitution bill tabled by Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette enshrines the right to abortion, arguing it would better protect it.

However, many groups have argued that this would make it easier to challenge in court, whereas it is already protected by numerous court decisions, including those of the Supreme Court.

When asked if she supported this aspect of the bill, Fréchette said she wanted to wait for the outcome of consultations and the parliamentary committee studying the bill.

However, she suggested that certain “elements” of the bill could be “reoriented” and “refocused,” her spokesperson confirmed.

At a news conference, Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette, who is spearheading the bill, set the record straight: the government is behind this bill, and Fréchette, who was Minister of Economy and Energy before the race, was part of it.

“I will listen to the groups and I will act accordingly, I will make the decisions. One thing is certain, the government has approved and tabled the bill.”

Fréchette advantage

In the race, which is already well underway, Fréchette enjoys a strong lead within the CAQ caucus.

She has so far garnered the support of nine ministers: Pascale Déry, Jean-François Roberge, Gilles Bélanger, Kateri Champagne-Jourdain, Benoit Charette, Mathieu Lacombe, Ian Lafrenière, Amélie Dionne and Chantal Rouleau.

In addition, there are 10 non-ministerial Members of the National Assembly: Catherine Blouin (Bonaventure), Céline Haytayan (Laval-des-Rapides), Audrey Bogemans (Iberville), Chantal Jeannotte (Labelle), Vincent Caron (Portneuf), Karine Boivin Roy (Anjou-Louis-Riel), François St-Louis (Joliette), Valérie Schmaltz (Vimont), Mario Laframboise (Blainville) and Marie-Louise Tardif (Laviolette).

Drainville received nine endorsements: Minister Samuel Poulin, MNAs Louis-Lemieux (Saint-Jean), Luc Provençal (Beauce-Nord), Shirley Dorismond (Marie-Victorin), Yannick Gagnon (Jonquière), Kariane Bourassa (Charlevoix-Côte-de-Beaupré), Suzanne Blais (Abitibi-Ouest), Isabelle Lecours (Lotbinière) and Marilyne Picard (Soulanges).

- Patrice Bergeron

- This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Jan. 28, 2026.