Quebec Solidaire fears a ‘Quebec DOGE’ in cabinet shuffle

Quebec Solidaire Leader Ruba Ghazal responds to reporters questions before a pre-session caucus meeting as co-spokesperson Guillaume Cliche-Rivard, right, looks on, at the legislature in Quebec City, Thursday, September 11, 2025 (Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press)

Quebec Solidaire (QS) is warning the new president of the Treasury Board, France-Élaine Duranceau, not to become the “minister of austerity” at the head of a “Quebec DOGE”.

“It would be a disaster for Quebecers, for the children in our schools, for the patients in our healthcare system. That’s not what we need in Quebec today,” said QS spokesperson Ruba Ghazal on Thursday on the sidelines of her party’s caucus meeting.

The U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is a team set up by President Donald Trump during his second term, previously led by billionaire Elon Musk, which aims to reduce spending and bureaucracy in the U.S. federal government.

On Wednesday, in a speech after his cabinet reshuffle, François Legault once again promised to streamline the Quebec government.

• READ MORE: Who’s in and out of Legault’s reshuffled cabinet?

Duranceau will be responsible for ensuring that each ministry does its part.

“I am very concerned that François Legault is conflating reducing bureaucracy and increasing efficiency with reducing services to the public,” said Ghazal.

The QS spokesperson was also harsh on the new Environment Minister Bernard Drainville and his previous statement: “Give me a break with GHGs!”

“It was really a slap in the face to all future generations and to current generations as well. In fact, François Legault could have eliminated the Ministry of the Environment instead of appointing Drainville, and it would have been the same thing,” she said.

At the bottom of the polls, QS says it is aware of the challenges.

“I take what we are seeing now with humility. There is one year left. It’s short, but it’s also long in politics. So you will see me, you will see the entire Quebec Solidaire team, which is here today. We will be here, in Parliament. We will work as a constructive opposition,” said Ghazal.

In a Pallas Data/L’Actualité/Qc125 poll published on Monday, the left-wing party is in fifth place with eight per cent.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Sept. 11, 2025.