Opinion: Legault should consider stepping down for the CAQ's own good
That's how Premier François Legault reacted to last week's Pallas Data poll, which showed his party trailing both the Parti Québécois and the Liberals following Pablo Rodriguez's election as leader of the Quebec Liberal Party. The Coalition Avenir Québec is now polling at just 15 per cent provincewide.
The situation is so disastrous that Legault's party is now virtually tied with Éric Duhaime's Conservative Party of Quebec, which stands at 14 per cent.
And the downward trend has persisted for over a year now; if an election were held today, the CAQ could be completely wiped out, with some projections suggesting it might not be able to win even a single seat. That puts all 86 of the party's MNAs — including Legault himself — at serious risk of losing their jobs by the fall of 2026.
Turning this around would require a drastic shift. Yet so far, Legault insists he has no intention of changing his strategy.
With the next general election scheduled for a year and a half from now — unless Legault surprises everyone by calling an early vote — some battles may still be winnable, but others might simply not be worth fighting.
This isn't just about Legault's future as premier. It's also a matter of survival for the party he founded 14 years ago. Either the CAQ goes down with him, or Legault finds the wisdom and selflessness to step aside and give someone else a chance to turn things around.
After five decades of alternating Liberal and PQ governments, Legault achieved what many thought impossible in Quebec politics: proving that a viable 'third way' can exist. That could be his lasting legacy — unless he lets it sink with him in the next election.
As he takes time to rest this summer, Legault should reflect on how he wants his political journey to end. After seven years in power, it's only natural for any politician to feel fatigue — and equally normal for voters to seek change.
The premier acknowledged it himself last week: Quebecers are deeply disappointed — with the economy, the management of public finances, and the lack of improvement in public services despite major reforms, among other issues.
Legault now finds himself in a situation not unlike Justin Trudeau's about a year ago: a leader trying to cling to his sinking ship, with a caucus that may be starting to worry internally over the prospect of a historic defeat. In Trudeau's case, his inner circle ultimately panicked a few months later and forced him out, replacing him with Mark Carney. The rest is history.
A similar fate may await Legault if poll numbers don't improve by the end of this fall. And the clock is ticking — it's nearly midnight already. If close allies start publicly calling for his resignation, Legault could face the humiliation of being pushed aside by the very party he built and led to power. That would be a sad ending.
In politics, knowing when to leave is an art. Legault should avoid the trap that has claimed so many leaders before him who tried to remain in power past their expiry date, damaging their reputation and legacy in the process.
In 2019, Legault promised to serve only two terms. Maybe it's time to consider honouring that commitment.
As a devoted hockey fan, the premier should know that too often, great players stay in the game far too long.
Take Chris Chelios, for example, who was still in the NHL at age 48. Despite an incredible career, he was rarely used in his final seasons and became more of a liability than an asset for his team.
If I were one of Legault's top advisers today, I'd tell him: Don't make a Chris Chelios of yourself, Mr. Legault.
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