Regional Minister

Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

QUEBEC CITY – The Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) Members of the National Assembly representing the Gaspésie may not be deemed qualified enough to serve as regional ministers, at least that is the impression left by Christopher Skeete, Minister responsible for Regional Development, during a budget session on April 29. 

The comment came in response to a question from Parti Québécois Member of the National Assembly (MNA) for Matane-Matapédia Pascal Bérubé, during the study of the 2025-2026 budget in the parliamentary committee. 

“I want to talk about the Abitibi-Témiscamingue and Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine regions. Does the minister think it would be a good idea for these two regions to have regional ministers who are MNAs for that territory?” asked Pascal Bérubé. 

“I think it’s on a case-by-case basis,” replied Mr. Skeete. “Does he think it would be desirable?” asked Mr. Bérubé again. 

“I don’t make the connection between the idea and the conclusion as to whether or not it’s a good thing. You can have a minister responsible for your region who is from your region and that doesn’t mean that he or she would be good,” said Mr. Skeete. 

Questioned on the sidelines of a press conference, the mayor of Gaspé preferred to be cautious in his comments. 

“That’s the Premier’s prerogative. I still think it’s unfortunate that we don’t have a regional minister among our regional deputies, but I can’t say that we’re badly served by Minister Maïté Blanchette Vézina, who is doing the necessary representational work as regional minister. But it has always been an advantage to have a regional minister among our deputies. I won’t say any more,” says Daniel Côté. 

He points out that in the past, ministers representing the region have been in Quebec City and Montreal.  Currently the Regional minister is the MNA for Rimouski.  The Gaspé Peninsula is represented by CAQ MNA Catherine Blouin in Bonaventure and CAQ MNA Stéphane Sainte-Croix in Gaspé. 

The last regional minister actually elected within the Gaspé region was Gaétan Lelièvre, Parti Québécois MNA for Gaspé, who served as Minister of the Regions between 2012 and 2014.