Social Services Minister Lionel Carmant announced Thursday that he is resigning from the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government and will sit as an Independent, just one day after his daughter publicly denounced Quebec’s new law on doctor compensation.
Standing beside Premier François Legault, Carmant called the decision “difficult and heart-wrenching.”
“The last few weeks have been difficult and have led me to refocus my priorities,” he said. “I am choosing my family.”
Legault later announced that Sonia Bélanger, minister responsible for housing, will replace Carmant as minister for seniors and social services, while Caroline Proulx will take over the housing portfolio.
Resignation Follows Daughter’s Open Letter
Carmant’s departure comes as Quebec doctors prepare a legal challenge against Bill 2, the special law imposing salary structures on physicians.
The Federation of Medical Specialists of Quebec filed its challenge Wednesday, calling the legislation draconian and a violation of charter rights.
Among those voicing opposition is Carmant’s daughter, Dr. Laurence Carmant, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist, who wrote in Le Devoir that she might leave Quebec if the government does not allow doctors to practise more freely.
“I will unfortunately have no other choice but to leave for another province,” she wrote, urging Health Minister Christian Dubé to fix “a broken system” instead of blaming individuals.
While the former minister did not directly address his daughter’s comments, he said his resignation was “a choice between responsibilities.”
“Being engaged politically must be done with balance, clarity, and honesty towards yourself and others,” he told reporters.
Reaction from Colleagues and Opposition
Public Security Minister Ian Lafrenière called Carmant “a very good minister, friend, and neighbour.”
“It’s a tough moment, but I understand his position,” Lafrenière said.
Liberal health critic Marc Tanguay said the daughter’s letter sends a powerful message to the government.
“She’s a super specialist — and the fact that she chose to write publicly says a lot,” he said. “As a father, I can see the stress this caused.”
Québec Solidaire MNA Manon Massé described Carmant as “an excellent minister” whose departure leaves a gap in the CAQ.
“That makes me sad because we could talk with him,” she said. “I don’t know where the CAQ is going.”
From Medicine to Politics
Before entering politics, Carmant was a pediatric neurologist at CHU Sainte-Justine. Elected as MNA for Taillon in 2018, he served as junior health minister from 2018 to 2022 before being promoted to social services minister.
In his parting remarks, Carmant said it was not easy to leave behind files he was passionate about.
Legault thanked him for his service, saying he is “grateful for what Lionel has accomplished.”
