Quebec Education Minister Sonia LeBel announced she will leave political life at the end of her current mandate [1].
LeBel is a prominent member of the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ) and has held a central role in the province's educational administration. Her departure creates a vacancy in the Champlain riding and signals a transition within the CAQ leadership as the province approaches its next general election.
LeBel said she will not stand for election in 2026 [2]. This decision comes after a period of reflection and consultation with her inner circle. "Après mûre réflexion et de longues conversations avec ma famille, mes amis ..." she said [3].
During her tenure, LeBel served eight years within the CAQ [1]. She described her time in office as a period of balancing government priorities with the needs of her constituents. She said that the interactions with the citizens of Champlain will be missed, saying, "Les échanges avec les citoyens de Champlain me manqueront" [4].
The announcement comes as the current legislature nears its conclusion. By choosing not to seek another term, LeBel avoids a campaign for the 2026 provincial elections [2]. Her exit follows a pattern of veteran ministers assessing their roles as the party prepares for its next electoral cycle.
LeBel has spent the recent period reviewing the achievements and challenges of her eight-year term [1]. While she remains in her post for the remainder of the mandate, her departure marks the end of her career in the National Assembly of Quebec.
“Sonia LeBel announced she will leave political life at the end of her current mandate.”
The departure of a high-ranking minister like LeBel suggests a strategic reshuffling or a natural attrition of the CAQ's original cabinet core. As the 2026 elections approach, the party must now identify a successor for the Champlain riding and determine how to maintain stability in the education portfolio, which remains a contentious issue in Quebec politics.
