Gilles Bélanger to leave CAQ after being excluded from Fréchette’s cabinet

MNA Gilles Bélanger speaks to the media after being named Minister of Cybersecurity and Digital Technology on Feb. 28, 2025. (CTV News)

MNA Gilles Bélanger, who was not included in Premier Christine Fréchette’s new cabinet, is expected to announce his departure from the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ).

Bélanger, the MNA for Orford, is slated to make the announcement on Thursday, according to information obtained by Noovo Info.

He was the minister for cybersecurity and digital affairs until Fréchette announced her cabinet on Tuesday. He reportedly did not take his exclusion from the premier’s inner circle very well.

France-Élaine Duranceau, the MNA for Bertrand, takes on the role.

Before he lost the ministerial role, Bélanger was the one who flagged concerns about the Digital Health Record (DSN) at Santé Quebec and suggested the possibility of being postponed. The major IT project is expected to integrate some 4,000 systems into a single platform but Bélanger raised concerns about the protection of Quebecers’ health data due to the involvement of American company Epic Systems.

• Digital Health Record launch to reduce elective care for four weeks in Quebec

Bélanger was, however, the first CAQ member to support Fréchette’s candidacy over Bernard Drainville’s in the race to succeed François Legault. He had even threatened to resign if Drainville won.

He is expected to finish his term as an independent MNA until the Oct. 5 provincial election. He represents the riding where Quebec Liberal Party leader Charles Milliard is running in the high-stakes election.

With files from Noovo Info