Quebec premier promises new legislation inspired by federal major projects law

**Quebec Premier Legault to Introduce New Legislation to Speed Up Environmental Approvals**

*MONTREAL* — Quebec Premier François Legault announced plans to table new legislation aimed at expediting environmental approvals, modeled on the federal major projects law. Speaking on the popular Quebec talk show *Tout le monde en parle* on Sunday evening, Legault said the Quebec bill will be “equivalent” to Bill C-5, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s signature legislation designed to fast-track projects considered to be in the national interest.

“Currently, it takes years to get environmental permits,” Legault said. “We can’t afford that.”

The new Quebec legislation, informally known within the government as “Q-5,” references the federal law and aims to accelerate the development of large projects to create new jobs in the province. Despite the focus on speed, Legault insisted that environmental protections would not be compromised.

However, the premier has recently hinted at the possibility of “taking a pause” on some environmental policies. In an earlier interview with Radio-Canada this month, he expressed concerns that Quebec “cannot be the only state in North America making an effort” to combat climate change.

Legault’s governing party, the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ), has been struggling in the polls for several months and faces the risk of complete defeat in the next provincial election scheduled for October 2026. According to polling aggregator Qc125.com, the CAQ could lose all of its 83 seats if an election were held today.

Adding to the party’s challenges, one of Legault’s former ministers, Maïté Blanchette Vézina, resigned from the caucus last week after being removed from the cabinet earlier this month. She stated she had lost faith in Legault and suggested he should reconsider his future as party leader.

On Sunday, however, Legault maintained that he still enjoys the support of “the vast majority” of his caucus and implied that Blanchette Vézina’s resignation stemmed from personal disappointment over her cabinet ousting.

The premier also reaffirmed his government’s commitment to strengthening secularism rules in Quebec. Last month, Secularism Minister Jean-François Roberge announced plans to introduce a bill to ban prayer in public places.

“The majority of Quebecers do not like to see people on their knees in our streets,” Legault said during the interview, specifically referring to Muslim prayers held during pro-Palestinian demonstrations outside the Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal, which have stirred controversy across the province.

“What’s happening in Gaza is unacceptable,” he added. “But is this our fight?”

Originally, Quebec’s National Assembly was set to resume sitting on September 16, but Legault decided to prorogue the legislature until September 30 amid a cabinet shuffle.

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*This report was first published on September 21, 2025, by The Canadian Press.*

*Maura Forrest, The Canadian Press*
https://www.sudbury.com/national/quebec-premier-promises-new-legislation-inspired-by-federal-major-projects-law-11243515