The race for the CAQ's next leader is officially on as Economy Minister Christine Fréchette launches campaign

Quebec Energy and Economy Minister Christine Fréchette says she's ready to become the province's second female premier and lead an inclusive Quebec, rooted in a strong economy.

Fréchette officially launched her campaign to become the Coalition Avenir Québec's next leader at a news conference in a factory in her hometown of Trois-Rivières, Que., flanked by about a dozen CAQ ministers and MNAs, including Indigenous Affairs Minister Ian Lafrenière and Culture Minister Mathieu Lacombe. 

"The world is changing. It's time Quebec takes up space, and don't you think it's time that a unifying woman be at the head of it?" she said.

Fréchette said she's ready to defend the Quebec economy within Canada, and that protecting the French language remains one of her priorities, but she is also open to having a dialogue with English-speaking Quebecers.

"We need to protect the French language because we are a minority in North America," she said. "But I intend to have a discussion, a dialogue, with the [English-speaking] people of Quebec. They are part of Quebec."

With the 56-year-old in the race, there are now officially two people vying to replace Premier François Legault, who announced his resignation earlier this month.

On Saturday, Environment Minister Bernard Drainville launched his campaign through a video posted to social media.

Whoever CAQ members select as their new leader, would also become Quebec's premier until the next provincial election slated for the fall.

Fréchette was first elected to the National Assembly in 2022, becoming the CAQ's MNA for Sanguinet and the province's immigration minister.

She was switched over to the energy and economy portfolios after Pierre Fitzgibbon stepped down in 2024.

Parti-Québécois ties

Both candidates in the race so far have a history with the Parti-Québécois.

Drainville was first elected to the National Assembly as a PQ MNA in 2007 and was later known for having tabled the proposed charter of values with Pauline Marois's PQ government.

Fréchette meanwhile had worked in former PQ Leader Jean-François Lisée's office, when he was minister responsible for International relations, in the Marois government.

Fréchette left his office in part because she was against the charter of values — which included a proposed religious symbols ban.

Despite that, on Sunday, the CAQ leadership candidate said she stands by her government's stance on secularism and its legislation banning religious symbols.

She also attacked the PQ, saying that while a referendum is a legitimate democratic process, it would be irresponsible to hold one in today's political climate.

"This is the worst time, in 50 years, to be holding a referendum," she said.

The two candidates for CAQ leadership launched their campaigns just as the PQ gathered in Saint-Hyacinthe for a policy convention this weekend.

They have both positioned themselves as candidates who are ready to protect small businesses and Quebec's regions in the face of economic uncertainty.

"People need leadership, need to have a vision, and need to know that we're at the wheel and that we can get past this storm. I have gotten past a few storms," Drainville said in an interview with Radio-Canada.

Drainville and Fréchette will have to step down from their positions as ministers in order to join the race to avoid a conflict of interest.

That means there could be more changes coming to Legault's cabinet.

The start of the race has not been a heated one so far: Drainville offered to sign Fréchette's nomination forms on Sunday.

Fréchette then took that offer one step further by suggesting all her supporters sign his forms.

Candidates have until Feb. 21 to throw their hats in the ring.

To qualify for leadership, they must obtain the support of 1,000 party members across at least 75 ridings, including 15 MNAs and 100 members of the CAQ's youth wing.

They are also required to pay a non-refundable deposit of $30,000 and stick to a spending cap of $150,000 for their campaign.

CAQ members will select the party's new leader, and the province's next premier, at a convention on April 12.