Couillard turns to fresh faces, appoints minister of Anglo affairs in cabinet shuffle

Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard has brought in new faces, switched up key posts and chosen a point person to work with anglophones as part of Wednesday's cabinet shuffle.

In all, Couillard appointed five new ministers and handed new posts to nine others in a bid to reinvigoratehis government a year ahead of the next election.

"We have the right plan and the right team in place to move our economy forward," Couillard said after announcing the changes.

Couillardtapped AndrFortin, a 35-year-old first-term backbencher, to head up the Transport Ministry only days before the deadline set byUberto leave Quebec over the province's stricter new regulations.

He takes over from LaurentLessard, who will retain his position as agriculture minister.

Isabelle Melanon, another rookie MNA for the Montreal riding of Verdun, will take over as environment minister from David Heurtel.

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Heurtel, meanwhile,will take over theimmigration portfolio. He will now have the challenge of handling the province's controversial consultations into systemic racism.

Weiltasked to work with Anglos

KathleenWeil, the MNA for the Montreal riding of Notre-Dame-de-Grce, who previously served as immigration minister, is the newministerresponsible for relations with English-speakingQuebecers.

Quebec has not had an anglophone affairs minister sinceCouillardbecame premier in 2014.

Jean-Franois Lise, the current Parti Qubcois leader, held theposition under premier Pauline Marois.

The addition is a response to a longtime demandfromcommunity groups representing English speakers.

Other key changes include:

• Pierre Arcandis the new Treasury Board minister.
• Pierre Moreau isthe newministerof energyandnatural resources energy.
• Luc Fortin is the newminister of families.
• Marie Montpetit isthe newminister of culture.

Couillardstresses economy

Despite the province'sstrong economic indicators, Couillard's Liberalshave been strugglingin opinion polls and were trounced byCoalition Avenir Qubecin the recent byelection in theQuebec City-areariding ofLouis-Hbert.

Couillardsounded like he was in full campaign mode in hisspeech in Quebec City.

"Our team took Quebec's economy from the doghouse to the power house," he said.

He also noted, in English, that English-speaking Quebecershave made an important contribution to the province.

"This is your home," he said.

Finance MinisterCarlosLeito,Health MinisterGatanBarrette and House Leader Jean-MarcFournierall retained their posts.

As well, Franois Blais lost hisposition as minister responsible for the Quebec City region, whileretaining his post asministerof employmentand social solidarity.

Sbastien Proulxtookover the Quebec City job and retains his post as education minister but losthis position as minister of families.