Meet the key cabinet ministers in the new Coalition Avenir Qubec government - Action News
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Montreal

Meet the key cabinet ministers in the new Coalition Avenir Qubec government

Who's in charge of Quebec's schools? Who is tasked with cutting down on emergency room wait times? We've got the breakdown on the key cabinet posts here.

Who's in charge of our schools? Who is tasked with cutting down on ER wait times? Your answers here

Franois Legault formed a gender-balanced cabinet on Thursday, made up of 13 men and 13 women. (Jacques Boissinot/Canadian Press)

After winning a decisive majority earlier this month, Franois Legaultwas sworn in as premier on Thursdayand unveiled his new, gender-balancedcabinet.

The cabinet is composed of 13 men and 13 women.

Here's a breakdown of who is heading up the key posts.

DanielleMcCann, health

Coalition Avenir Qubec Sanguinet candidate Danielle McCann responds to reporters questions on the party's financial platform, Saturday, September 8, 2018 in Quebec City. (Jacques Boissinot/Canadian Press)

McCann, a former head ofMontreal's regional public health authority, trained as a social worker and holds an MBA from the Universit de Montral's business school.She represents theMontrgieriding ofSanguinet.

She will be faced with the challenge of cutting emergency room wait times and improving access to family doctors, two thingsLegaultpromised during the campaign.

Jean-FranoisRoberge, education

Jean-Franois Roberge, a former school teacher, is the province's new education minister. (Radio-Canada)

Roberge, who represents the riding ofChamblyon the South Shore, was an elementaryschool teacher before entering provincial politics in 2014. Hepreviously served as theCAQ'seducation critic, though was involved with thePartiQubcois in the past.

He publisheda book in 2016 calledEt si onrinventaitl'cole?, which outlines proposals to improve literacy rates and reduce the number of high school dropouts. Legaulthas promised to boost funding for school buildings, hire more specialists for children with disabilities and introduce province-wide pre-kindergarten to ease the pressureon the public daycare system.

ricGirard, finance

Coalition Avenir Quebec Groulx candidate Eric Girard responds to reporters questions on the party's financial platform, Saturday, September 8, 2018 in Quebec City. (Jacques Boissinot/Canadian Press)

Viewed as a star recruit for the CAQ, Girard drafted the party's financial frameworkpresented during the campaign. He worked for the National Bank for 25 years, most recently as vice-president and treasurer. He wasan expert in liquidity, financingand interest rates.

He lives in Montreal and represents the riding of Groulx, just north of Laval.Girard'spredecessor, Carlos Leito, leaves behind a booming economy afterdelivering four consecutive balanced budgets.

SimonJolin-Barrette, immigration and secular policy

Coalition Avenir Quebec MNA Simon Jolin-Barrette responds to reporters questions on the government transition, Tuesday, October 9, 2018 at the legislature in Quebec City. (Jacques Boissinot/Canadian Press)

Jolin-Barrette, now 31, was first elected in 2014 at age 27. As co-spokesperson for the CAQ'stransition team, he was tasked with defending the party's controversial plan to ban some civil servants, including teachers, from wearingreligious symbols. He has a master's degree in public administration as well as a graduate degree in law.

As immigration minister, he will oversee the government's commitment to cut the number of immigrantsby more than 20 per cent next year, to 40,000.

ChantalRouleau, responsible for Montreal

Chantal Rouleau was formerly the borough mayor of Rivire-des-PrairiePointe-aux-Trembles in Montreal. (Radio-Canada)

As one of only two CAQMNAs on the island of Montreal, Rouleauwill be an important voice for the city in cabinet. Legault and Montreal Mayor Valrie Plantehave clashed on a range of issues, including immigration, transit and the environment.

Rouleauisthe former mayor of the Montreal borough ofRivire-des-PrairiesPointe-aux-Trembles.

Sonia LeBel, justice

Sonia LeBel speaks during a news conference in Montreal, Tuesday, February 21, 2017, where it was announced that she would become deputy chief of staff for the Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ). (Graham Hughes/Canadian Press)

LeBelspent 20 years as a Crown prosecutor, specializing in drug and organized crime cases. She was a prosecutor for the Charbonneau commission, which examined corruption in the construction industry.More recently, she was Legault's assistant chief of staff.

Genevive Guilbault, public security and deputy premier

Genevive Guilbault is a former spokesperson for the Quebec coroner. (Alice Chiche/Radio-Canada)

Guilbault is a former spokesperson for the Quebec coroner. She won a byelection in the Quebec City riding of Louis-Hbert in 2017 that gave the CAQ a burst of momentum in the polls.

Along with Jolin-Barrette, she was a spokesperson for the CAQ's transition team. She will handle the aftermath of the 2017 floods and oversee both Montreal police and the Sret du Qubec.

MarieChantal Chass, environment

MarieChantal Chass, an engineer, has spent most of her professional life working in the aerospace industry. (Graham Hughes/Canadian Press)

Chass hasspent most of her professional life working in the aerospace industry. She is the founding president and CEO of the aerospace firm JMJ Aronautique.

Quebec environmentalists have called on the government to come up with a clear plan to curb greenhouse gases.

Marguerite Blais, seniors

Marguerite Blais, former Quebec Liberal cabinet minister, smiles after announcing her candidacy for the Coalition Avenir Qubec in the riding of Prevost north of Montreal Friday, May 11, 2018 in Saint Sauveur, Que. (Ryan Remiorz/Canadian Press)

Blaishas been involved in provincial politics for more than a decade. Shewas Liberal MNA from 2007 to 2014, serving as minister of seniors between 2007 and 2012. She left politics in 2015 following the death of her husband.

She is a well-known advocate for better elder care, and will oversee Legault'spledge to overhaul the province's beleaguered network of long-termcare homes.