Former Quebec health minister Gatan Barrette won't run in 2022 elections

Former Quebec health minister Gatan Barrette will not seek another term as MNA.

At anews conference Sunday, Barrette said he wanted to make the announcement before the end of sessionand the next general assembly to avoid becoming the focus.Hehas represented the constituency of La Pinire since 2014.

Barrette was health minister under former premier Philippe Couillard from 2014 and 2018.

"I didn't want to hijack the national meeting because of my decision and so on," he said.

Accompanied by Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) leader Dominique Anglade, Barrette said that since 2014, he had planned to only serve for two mandates, which he has as a member of the governing party and as part of the opposition.

"Nothing hurts me more than when a columnist says our health system is mediocre," he said.

"We don't need to blush about our system. We have organizational andinfrastructure problems but as far as quality of care, I'm prepared to go anywhere to defend Quebec."

Angladesaid very few people can say they've had as much of an impact as Barrette has in his eight-and-a-half year political career.

"Personally, if I think of my caucus... he's been a tremendous supporter of the team members," Angladesaid. "Always helpful. Alwayspicking up the phone late at night if not during the night to provide some advice."

"The caucus we had today, which was very emotional, testifies to the relationships he was abletobuild with other people."

Leaving with regrets

In hindsight, Barrette says he regretsthe speed at whichBill 10, the infamoushealth network reform he spearheaded,was adopted.

The controversial billled to the abolishment of individual health institutions boards, mainly hospitals, and mergedthem into 28 regional boards in the aim of saving the province $55 million in its first year.

Additional reforms from Barrettearrived throughBill 20, which included a plan to coerce doctors into seeing more patients, or face penalties if they did not a challenge Quebec's health-care systemcontinues to face.

"There was one thing that I miscalculated,"he said. "Today, I see that we had cut too many intermediate management. This issomethingthat has to be addressed."

Health Minister Christian Dub said he imagines not seeking re-electionwas a difficult decision for Barrette to make.

"I have a lot of respect for what he has done," Dub said."Maybe we differ in the way of doing things, but I just wish him good luck and I'm sure I'll talk to him over the next few weeks."

The announcement follows Anglade recently demoting Barrette and MNA Marie Montpetit from their roles as party critics following an online squabble.

Barrette, whoserved as health minister under former premier Philippe Couillard, had alsorun as a candidate for the Coalition Avenir Qubec.

The PLQ has not yet determinedwho will run for the party in the next election inLa Pinire.