Sonia Bélanger Steps Into the Eye of Quebec’s Health Care Storm
Right now in Quebec politics, everything seems to be moving fast, and at the center of it all is the sudden exit of Christian Dubé from his role as minister of Health. His resignation has landed like a thunderclap at the National Assembly, and almost immediately, attention has shifted to the person expected to replace him: Sonia Bélanger.
Christian Dubé’s departure was not quiet or symbolic. It was announced in a long public letter, shared as doctors were in the middle of voting on a controversial agreement tied to Bill 2, the reform of physician compensation that he had personally championed. Feeling sidelined from negotiations that were now being handled directly by Premier François Legault, Dubé chose to step down rather than stay on and support amendments that dismantled large parts of his own reform. It was made clear that he no longer felt he was the right person to carry the file forward, and so he left cabinet and will now sit as an independent MNA.
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That decision has forced the premier into an urgent cabinet shuffle just days before the holidays. And that’s where Sonia Bélanger comes in. Currently serving as minister responsible for Seniors and for Social Services, Bélanger is widely expected to be named the new minister of Health. Her background is being closely watched. Before entering politics, she was the CEO of a major health network in Montreal, which means she knows the system from the inside, not just from a political angle.
Still, her arrival is being framed by some analysts as a familiar pattern. Once again, a woman is being asked to step in after a major crisis, to clean up a file left in turmoil. Political commentators have pointed out that similar situations followed the departures of other heavyweight ministers, where women were appointed to stabilize difficult portfolios under intense pressure. The phrase “picking up the broken pieces” has been repeated often, and it’s hard to ignore the symbolism.
At the same time, Bélanger’s appointment also reflects a broader shift inside the Legault government. What was once a heavily male-dominated cabinet is gradually being transformed, with more women now holding key positions in finance, health, and social policy. Whether this represents opportunity, burden, or both is still being debated.
For Premier Legault, the stakes are high. Dubé was seen as a pillar of the government, especially after steering Quebec through the pandemic. Losing him, on top of other recent resignations, has weakened the image of stability the CAQ once projected. Sonia Bélanger is now being asked to restore calm, rebuild trust with doctors, and move forward on health reform, all while under the spotlight.
The real test will begin the moment she officially takes office. The health care system remains fragile, negotiations are still tense, and public patience is thin. For Sonia Bélanger, this isn’t just a promotion. It’s a baptism by fire.
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