Lionel Carmant Steps Down Amid Family Rift Over Quebec’s Controversial Bill 2
It’s been a dramatic and emotional week in Quebec politics. Lionel Carmant, one of the founding members of the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) and a close ally of Premier François Legault, has officially stepped down from his position as minister and left the CAQ caucus. His decision, announced in a heartfelt press conference, comes right after the heated adoption of the government’s controversial Bill 2 on physicians — a reform that has sparked strong backlash, even within his own family.
Standing alongside Premier Legault, Carmant announced that he would now serve as an independent member of the National Assembly. Speaking calmly but emotionally, he said the decision had come after “deep reflection and many discussions” with his loved ones. “The past few weeks have been difficult and have made me realize I need to refocus my priorities. I’m choosing my family — the one my wife and I have built together,” he shared.
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His departure follows days of visible strain between his political duties and his family life. Both his wife and daughter are doctors, and like many in the medical community, they have been openly critical of Bill 2 — legislation that restructures how doctors are paid and how they can practice. The tension escalated earlier this week when Carmant’s daughter, Dr. Laurence Carmant, published an open letter in Le Devoir condemning the new law. In that letter, she warned she might have “no choice but to move to another province” if Quebec doesn’t allow doctors to “practice freely.”
The letter made headlines across the province and reportedly deepened the emotional turmoil at home. Carmant had already admitted earlier in the week that things “weren’t easy at home,” noting that his wife and daughter were both angry about the government’s move. The adoption of the law, passed under closure to limit debate, has caused widespread frustration among healthcare professionals who see it as unfair and restrictive.
Premier François Legault, visibly moved during the announcement, praised Carmant’s integrity and long-standing friendship. “Lionel Carmant is a man of exceptional value. I’ve known him for years, I know his family, and I understand the heartbreak he’s feeling right now,” Legault said, adding, “In life, family must always come first — and that’s exactly what Lionel is doing today.”
For Carmant, the decision marks the end of a long chapter with the CAQ — the very party he helped to build from the ground up. While it’s a major loss for Legault’s government, the move highlights just how personal and divisive the debate over Quebec’s healthcare reform has become.
In the end, Lionel Carmant’s resignation feels less like a political act and more like a deeply human one — a reminder that even the most passionate public servants sometimes have to step back to honor what matters most: family.
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