The political landscape in Quebec shifted on Wednesday as Premier François Legault announced his resignation, triggering a wave of mixed reactions that highlighted the deep divisions his government fostered. While political opponents and business groups offered respectful praise, union leaders and English-speaking community representatives expressed a palpable sense of relief, marking the end of an era defined by sweeping language reforms and contentious policies.
A Legacy of Linguistic Tension and Political Ambition
François Legault, 68, first led the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) to victory in 2018 and secured a second mandate in 2022. Despite stating his ambition as recently as December to seek a historic third term—a feat not achieved since Maurice Duplessis—Legault is stepping down. His departure comes as his government grapples with a series of significant challenges, including a strained healthcare system, a critical teacher shortage, the collapse of the high-profile Northvolt battery project, the costly SAAQclic digital services failure, and a record-high deficit that prompted Quebec's first credit rating downgrade in thirty years. Polls currently show him as Canada's least popular premier.
Central to Legault's tenure was his government's aggressive stance on protecting the French language. Amid rising anxiety among francophones, his administration embarked on the most significant overhaul of Quebec's language laws since the 1977 Charter of the French Language (Bill 101), resulting in the controversial Bill 96.
Divergent Voices: From Praise to Criticism
The reaction to his resignation was sharply divided. Sylvia Martin-Laforge, Director General of the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN, now TALQ), which represents 48 English-speaking organizations, did not mince words. She stated that Legault had shown English speakers "what it truly means to be a minority." Martin-Laforge argued that the combined effect of Bill 96, the secularism law (Bill 21), and the proposed constitutional legislation (Bill 1) represented "continuous coercive measures" that eroded trust between linguistic communities and harmed social cohesion and the economy.
In stark contrast, political figures across the spectrum offered commendations. Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon acknowledged Legault's sincerity in wanting to improve the Quebec nation and praised his determination to advance Quebec's interests. Quebec Liberal Party's expected next leader, Charles Milliard, saluted Legault's steadfast commitment, while Québec solidaire's Ruba Ghazal and Conservative Party of Quebec's Éric Duhaime also offered tributes.
Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada thanked Legault for his service during difficult times like the pandemic, while Ontario Premier Doug Ford posted on social media, thanking him for his friendship and leadership.
Business Backing vs. Union Condemnation
The business community largely viewed Legault's tenure favorably. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business praised efforts to strengthen Quebec's economy by reducing interprovincial trade barriers and simplifying regulations. The Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal credited his government for navigating the pandemic, inflation, and shifting U.S. trade relations.
Unions, however, presented a scathing assessment. Magali Picard, President of the Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec (FTQ), labeled Legault's record "catastrophic for Quebec," blaming his government's populist and divisive policies. Health-care unions blamed years of poor planning under his watch for leaving a system with overworked staff and crumbling infrastructure.
At the federal level, Minister of Identity and Culture Marc Miller, who had a public dispute with Legault in December over the French language debate, thanked the premier for his public service and acknowledged his deep love for Quebec.
As Quebec turns the page, the focus for many, including community advocates like Martin-Laforge, is a hope that the political debate can move beyond divisive language politics and refocus on pressing economic and social priorities that unite rather than divide the province.
