CAQ leadership candidate Bernard Drainville, centre, announces endorsements by party members Quebec Minister of Transportation Jonatan Julien, left to right, Quebec Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette and Quebec Health Minister Sonia Belanger in Montreal on Monday, April 6, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

By The Canadian Press

Race for new Quebec premier heats up as Bernard Drainville gets high-profile support

Apr 6, 2026 | 9:40 AM

MONTREAL —

Three Quebec cabinet ministers are throwing their support behind Bernard Drainville with less than one week to go in the race to replace outgoing Premier François Legault.

Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette, Health Minister Sonia Bélanger and Transport Minister Jonatan Julien announced today they’re endorsing Drainville in the Coalition Avenir Québec leadership race.

Drainville has positioned himself as the candidate best suited to defend Quebec identity and to adopt a stricter immigration policy.

His only rival, Christine Fréchette, has campaigned as the more centrist candidate by focusing on economic issues.

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Fréchette has been leading in the polls but Drainville says the polling companies don’t have access to the voters who matter in this race — the members of the CAQ party.

Julien says he was impressed by Drainville’s performance in the leadership debates and says others in the party feel the same way.

Fréchette has the support of 16 cabinet ministers, including the current finance, immigration, public security, culture and environment ministers.

The CAQ is scheduled to choose a new leader on Sunday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 6, 2026.

The Canadian Press