Legault Expels Pierre Dufour, Stirring Anger in Abitibi
So here’s what’s been happening in Quebec politics, and it’s creating quite a storm. François Legault, the premier of Quebec, has made a very firm move—he expelled Pierre Dufour, the member for Abitibi-Est, from the Coalition Avenir Québec caucus. The decision was triggered by an ultimatum that Dufour issued earlier this week. In an interview, he had said that if the upcoming cabinet reshuffle did not include someone from his region, he would consider leaving his post, maybe even run for mayor of Val-d’Or.
Now, this was not taken lightly by Legault. The premier considered it an unacceptable threat, one that undermined party unity. His message was very clear: the government has a lot of work ahead, Quebecers expect results, and unity inside the team is non-negotiable. And so, by Friday morning, Dufour was shown the door.
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Pierre Dufour, for his part, defended himself in interviews. He insisted that he wasn’t seeking a ministerial post for himself. He said he was only trying to make sure his region—Abitibi-Témiscamingue—finally got the representation it deserves at the cabinet table. He argued that as a regional MP, it’s his duty to bring forward the priorities and frustrations of his constituents. According to him, if speaking up for his community is seen as divisive, then that’s simply a different way of looking at politics.
But the premier’s decision sparked outrage across Abitibi. Local leaders did not hold back. Jaclin Bégin, president of the Conference of Prefects in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, accused Legault of showing complete disregard for the region. In his words, the message was clear: the premier doesn’t care about Abitibi. He stressed that deputies are elected to be the voice of their people, and that Dufour was doing exactly that—yet he was punished for it. Claire Bolduc, prefect of Témiscamingue, also expressed shock and deep disappointment. For her, Dufour had been a strong voice for the region’s needs, and now he’s paying the price for speaking up.
It’s important to remember that Abitibi-Témiscamingue hasn’t had a minister at the table since 2022, despite the fact that the CAQ holds all three ridings there. Dufour himself was once minister of Forests, Wildlife and Parks, but after the last election, none of the region’s MPs were promoted to cabinet roles. This ongoing exclusion has been a sore point locally, and the frustration is real.
As for what comes next, Dufour is now sitting as an independent. He left the door slightly open to a mayoral run in Val-d’Or, though he admitted the chances are slim—about one percent, by his own estimate—since he doesn’t want to force a costly by-election. For now, he says, he intends to finish his mandate.
Still, the damage is done. Legault’s caucus has shrunk again, and his handling of regional representation is under fire. In Abitibi, the expulsion of Dufour is being felt not just as a political maneuver, but as a symbol that the region’s voice is being sidelined at the highest levels of government.
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