Executive Council of Quebec explained

The Executive Council of Quebec (informally and more commonly, the Cabinet of Quebec and in French Le Conseil des ministres) is the cabinet of the government of Quebec, Canada.

Usually made up of members of the Quebec National Assembly, the Cabinet is similar in structure and role to the Cabinet of Canada, while being smaller in size. As federal and provincial responsibilities differ, there are a number of portfolios that differ between the federal and provincial governments.

The Lieutenant Governor of Quebec, as representative of the Queen in Right of Quebec, heads the Council, and is referred to as the Governor-in-Council. Other members of the Cabinet, who advise, or minister, the vice-regal, are selected by the Premier of Quebec, and appointed by the Lieutenant-Governor. Most Cabinet Ministers are the head of a ministry, but this is not always the case.

As at the federal level, the most important Cabinet post, after that of the prime minister or premier, is Minister of Finance. Today, the next most powerful position is the Health Portfolio, which has a vast budget and is of central political import. Other powerful portfolios include education and energy.

Current Cabinet

The current Cabinet has been in place since soon after the 2003 election, with the formation of a government by the Quebec Liberal Party. A major cabinet shuffle was implemented on February 18, 2005, It was shuffled again, and significantly reduced, after the election of March 26, 2007 which resulted in a minority government for the Liberals.

Lieutenant-Governor
His Honour The Honourable Pierre Duchesne(2007-)
PortfolioMinister
Premier of Quebec
      and Minister responsible for Youth Issues
Jean Charest(2003-)
Deputy Premier of Quebec
      Minister of Municipal Affairs and Regions
Nathalie Normandeau(2007-)
Minister of Aboriginal AffairsPierre Corbeil(2008-)
Minister of Agriculture and FisheriesLaurent Lessard(2007-)
Minister of Culture and CommunicationsChristine St-Pierre(2007-)
Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export TradeRaymond Bachand(2007-)
Minister of Education, Leisure and SportsMichelle Courchesne(2007-)
Minister of the EnvironmentLine Beauchamp(2007-)
Minister of Finance
      and Chair of the Treasury Board
Monique Jérôme-Forget(2007-)
Minister of Government ServicesDominique Vien(2008-)
Minister of Health and Social ServicesYves Bolduc(2008-)
Minister of Immigration and Cultural CommunitiesYolande James(2007-)
Minister of Intergovernmental AffairsJacques Dupuis(2008-)
Minister of International RelationsPierre Arcand(2008-)
Minister of JusticeKathleen Weil(2008-)
Minister of LabourDavid Whissell(2007-)
Minister of Natural Resources and WildlifeClaude Béchard(2007-)
Minister of RevenueRobert Dutil(2008-)
Minister of Seniors' AffairsMarguerite Blais(2007-)
Minister of TourismNicole Ménard(2008-)
Minister for Transport (Quebec)Julie Boulet(2007-)
Non-Cabinet Roles
RoleMember
President of the Liberal Caucus Yvon Vallières(2007-)
Government WhipNorman MacMillan(2007-)