Will CAQ Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette be in the running for the upcoming election? Suspense currently hangs in the air, and Premier Christine Fréchette has been unable to dispel it with only a few days left before the campaign kicks off. “Discussions are currently underway. Simon is one of the most important members of our political party. He has always held key positions and will continue to hold very important roles within my party. So there you have it—we’re preparing for what’s next,” she replied after being asked about the matter during a press briefing in Roberval, in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region. Jolin-Barrette’s photo still appears in the “Our Candidates” section of the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) website. Associated with the CAQ’s “blue wing,” Simon Jolin-Barrette is the architect of nationalist legislative initiatives, such as Bill 21 on secularism and Bill 96 on the French language. During the last parliamentary session, he attempted to pass a Quebec constitution. The controversial bill, however, died on the order paper due to opposition from the other political parties. During the race to succeed François Legault, Jolin-Barrette supported Bernard Drainville, who is also associated with the nationalist wing. He ultimately lost to Fréchette, who is more closely associated with the CAQ’s “red” and federalist faction. Jolin-Barrette has represented the riding of Borduas since 2014. On Wednesday, Minister Benoit Charette announced that he would not seek another term. The election campaign is set to begin next week. Voting will take place on Oct. 5. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Aug. 20, 2026.
