Quebec Labour Minister Jean Boulet announced Wednesday that he will not seek re-election in the provincial election scheduled for October 5, becoming the latest senior Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) figure to step away from politics.
Speaking at his constituency office in Trois-Rivières, an emotional Boulet said the decision followed months of reflection and was motivated by personal and professional considerations.
“I met my goals; it’s time to open new chapters and take up new professional challenges,” he said.
Boulet, who has served as the Member of the National Assembly for Trois-Rivières since 2018, has held several key portfolios within the CAQ government, including immigration, labour, and, briefly this year, economy, innovation and energy during the party’s leadership transition following former premier François Legault’s resignation.
Despite his departure, Boulet expressed confidence in the future of the CAQ and the leadership of Premier Christine Fréchette, stressing that his decision was not politically motivated.
As labour minister since 2022, Boulet played a central role in several high-profile labour disputes. He was instrumental in ending a prolonged strike involving Montreal transit maintenance workers after threatening legislation that would have forced binding arbitration.
The dispute ultimately led to the adoption of Law 14, which expanded the government’s ability to intervene in labour conflicts by considering the public’s well-being when assessing work stoppages. The legislation remains controversial and is currently being challenged in court by labour unions, which argue it infringes on workers’ right to strike.
Boulet defended the law on Wednesday, saying it was necessary to protect essential public services.
“Everyone was affected by that labour dispute; public transit in Montreal is fundamental,” he said. “That law is for the benefit of the population.”
His tenure also drew criticism from labour groups over the closure of Amazon’s Quebec facilities in 2025, which resulted in more than 4,500 job losses after workers at a Laval warehouse successfully unionized. Boulet said the provincial government worked to support affected employees but noted the closure was ultimately a corporate decision beyond Quebec’s control.
The minister also addressed a recent incident in which a papier-mâché effigy resembling him was mock-guillotined during a labour protest in Montreal. Boulet became emotional while discussing the event but said it did not influence his decision to leave politics.
In addition to his labour portfolio, Boulet currently serves as minister responsible for Canadian relations.
His departure adds to a growing list of CAQ politicians choosing not to run in the next election, including former premier François Legault, Housing Minister Caroline Proulx, and Education Minister Sonia Lebel. More than two dozen CAQ MNAs and cabinet ministers have announced plans to leave provincial politics at the end of their mandates.
Quebec voters are scheduled to head to the polls on October 5.
