Quebec Premier François Legault announced his resignation this week, stepping down ahead of the provincial election scheduled for October 2026. The move comes as recent polling indicates a significant decline in his popularity, with the premier himself acknowledging that voters desire new leadership.
A Campaign Promise of Stability, A Tenure of Division
Legault, a former Parti Québécois cabinet minister and co-founder of Air Transat, entered the political arena with his own party, the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ), in 2011. His genius lay in a calculated political shift. Understanding that the spectre of a sovereignty referendum traditionally drove votes to the Quebec Liberals, he positioned the CAQ as a centre-right party that would avoid the old federalism-sovereignty debate.
His successful 2018 campaign focused on the economy, healthcare, and the promotion of Quebec identity. This platform reassured many that his government would not pursue the kind of major upheavals that could prompt an exodus from the province. The CAQ's majority victory that year broke a nearly 50-year cycle of power alternating between the Liberals and the PQ.
The Rise of Bill 96 and Its Impact
However, anglophone and allophone communities—those whose first language is neither French nor English—soon discovered that the new premier's vision for Quebec's identity left little room for their comfort. The cornerstone of this vision became Bill 96, the Act respecting French, the official and common language of Québec, enacted in 2022.
The law's stated purpose was to affirm French as the sole official language and the common language of the "Québec nation." While avoiding a sovereignty referendum, the legislation embedded the concept of a distinct nation, reinforcing French dominance across government, business, and education.
The practical effects were immediate and far-reaching. Individuals calling government departments for service in English were suddenly required to prove they were historic anglophones. New immigrants were granted a mere six-month window to access services in English after arrival.
Consequences in the Workplace and Healthcare
Bill 96 aggressively targeted the workplace. Companies with 25 or more employees now face the mandate to conduct internal communications, contracts, and job postings primarily in French, under threat of substantial fines.
Perhaps most alarming to many were the provisions affecting medical services. The law actively discourages healthcare professionals from communicating with patients in English or any language other than French, raising profound concerns about access to care and patient safety.
While popular with a segment of the Quebec population, these language reforms proved deeply divisive. They alienated not only anglophones but also allophones who value bilingualism for themselves and their children's future.
Legault's resignation follows a Pallas Data poll revealing that approximately three-quarters of Quebecers now view him unfavourably. His legacy, therefore, is complex: a leader who promised stability but whose policy legacy, particularly Bill 96, has left a significant portion of Quebec's population feeling unwelcome in their own province. His departure sets the stage for an October election where economic issues, language policy, and the search for a new premier will be central to the debate.
