Quebec’s new Cabinet: Three ministers to watch closely for our industry

October 29, 2026

Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon unveiled his first Cabinet on October 21, marking the Parti Québécois’s return to power after 12 years in opposition.

The new government takes office at a time when several issues directly affect the auto care sector, including the labour shortage, vocational training, immigration and consumer protection. These files have been central to AIA Canada’s work with the Quebec government for several years.

Three appointments stand out in particular: the Ministers of Justice, Immigration, and Labour and Employment. Their responsibilities overlap with several of the association’s priorities, including the enforcement of Quebec’s right to repair legislation and the recruitment and training of industry workers.

Key appointments

Minister of Justice

Marie-Claude Sarrazin — MNA for Groulx

Marie-Claude Sarrazin enters provincial politics after a legal career spanning nearly 25 years. A law graduate of the Université de Montréal and a member of the Barreau du Québec since 2002, she has practised mainly in civil, commercial and disciplinary litigation.

She was managing partner of the law firm Sarrazin+Plourde and has advised several public institutions, including universities and Crown corporations. She also served as counsel for the Gallant Commission, which investigated the SAAQclic project, and chaired the board of directors of SOQUIJ from 2018 to 2025.

Her appointment is relevant to AIA Canada because of the association’s work on the right to repair. In 2023, Quebec passed legislation strengthening consumer rights regarding the repair of goods, including motor vehicles. The main regulatory provisions came into force on October 5, 2025.

The Ministry of Justice handles the legal aspects of this legislative framework. For AIA Canada, the priority will be to ensure the law is enforced effectively and that independent service providers can obtain the data, software, diagnostic tools and technical information they need to maintain and repair today’s vehicles.

Deputy Premier and Minister of Immigration and Integration

Catherine Gentilcore — MNA for Terrebonne

Catherine Gentilcore was first elected to the National Assembly in the March 2025 by-election. Before entering politics, she held senior management positions at Le Devoir and the Opéra de Montréal, and served as President and CEO of Numana, an organization specializing in digital technologies.

She is also a former president of the Parti Québécois. In addition to Immigration, she serves as Deputy Premier, Government House Leader and Minister responsible for Quebec’s Accession to Independence, giving her a key role in the new administration.

Immigration will be a major file for the government. The Parti Québécois has committed to lowering immigration levels, including a target of about 35,000 permanent residents per year and a significant reduction in the number of temporary residents over its mandate.

These plans are a concern for employers who are already struggling to recruit skilled workers. For AIA Canada, access to foreign workers and retaining employees already settled in Quebec remain priorities. The association has called for faster processing of immigration applications and for measures to retain workers who came to Quebec through the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ).

Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Solidarity

Mathieu Lebrun — MNA for Rousseau

Mathieu Lebrun has extensive experience in labour relations and mediation. He holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial relations from the Université de Montréal and a master’s degree in law from the Université de Sherbrooke.

Since 2021, he had served as chief mediator-conciliator at Quebec’s Ministry of Labour. Before that, he spent nine years as a mediator-conciliator in the public and private sectors. He also worked in the labour relations department of the Sûreté du Québec from 2002 to 2012.

His background gives him hands-on knowledge of labour relations and job market issues. He now heads a ministry that matters a great deal to businesses struggling to hire.

For AIA Canada, Mathieu Lebrun will be a key contact on workforce development, vocational training and skilled trades. These issues are all the more pressing as shops face a shortage of technicians and constantly evolving automotive technologies.

AIA Canada’s key files in Quebec

AIA Canada has submitted several recommendations to the Quebec government, notably as part of the 2026-2027 pre-budget consultations. The association’s priorities focus mainly on the labour shortage, training, immigration and the enforcement of right to repair legislation.

Right to repair and consumer protection

The passage of Quebec’s right to repair legislation was a major step forward for the auto care sector. Now that the main regulatory provisions are in force, we need to make sure they deliver the expected results.

Independent service providers must be able to access the information, software, diagnostic tools and vehicle data they need to do their work. Without this access, consumers risk facing fewer choices and higher repair costs.

Among other things, AIA Canada has called for increased operating funding for the Office de la protection du consommateur (OPC), which took on additional responsibilities when the new legislation came into force.

The association will continue working with the relevant authorities to ensure the law meets its objectives. The new Minister of Justice will be a contact for legal matters, alongside discussions with the bodies directly responsible for consumer protection.

Immigration and access to skilled labour

Recruitment remains a major challenge for businesses in the sector. Many shops, especially outside major centres, have trouble finding technicians and other skilled employees.

Immigration has helped some employers meet part of their needs. AIA Canada has recommended increasing processing capacity at the Ministry of Immigration to reduce wait times and make it easier to recruit and integrate foreign workers.

The association has also called for measures to help retain workers who came to Quebec through the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ). Businesses that have invested in recruiting and training these employees need more predictability about their ability to stay in the province.

The new government’s plan to lower immigration levels will need to be closely monitored. AIA Canada intends to make the specific needs of the auto care sector known so they are taken into account in upcoming decisions.

Vocational training and recruitment

The industry’s challenges go beyond recruitment. As vehicles become increasingly complex, technicians must regularly update their knowledge, particularly in electric powertrains, batteries, diagnostics and electronic systems.

AIA Canada has called for additional funding for the Compétences VÉ program and for it to remain available in all regions of Quebec. The program helps industry professionals gain the skills needed to maintain and repair electric vehicles.

The association has also proposed financial assistance to help new workers buy or lease professional tools, a cost that is often a significant barrier early in their careers.

Improving vocational diploma (DEP) programs in automotive trades will also be a priority. AIA Canada wants to work with the government, educational institutions and employers to make these programs better aligned with the industry’s current needs. This includes updating course content, placing more emphasis on hands-on learning and better preparing students for the technologies used in shops.

AIA Canada has also recommended a province-wide campaign to promote automotive trades to young people and encourage more students to choose this career path.

These files will be part of upcoming discussions with Minister Lebrun and his team.

Business succession and independent shops

Business succession is another challenge for the sector. Many independent shop owners are nearing retirement, and finding someone to take over their business isn’t always easy.

AIA Canada has recommended specific support for Repreneuriat Québec to develop initiatives tailored to automotive trades.

Making it easier for new entrepreneurs to acquire existing shops would help keep these businesses going and maintain access to repair services, especially in small communities.

This file could be raised with the Minister of Labour and Employment, as well as with other ministries and economic development organizations involved in business succession.

Next steps

The appointment of ministerial teams and the release of mandate letters in the coming weeks will give a clearer picture of the new government’s direction.

Here is our roadmap:

AIA Canada’s first step will be to reach out to the offices of the Ministers of Justice, Immigration, and Labour and Employment. These discussions will be an opportunity to present the association’s priorities and continue the work already underway with the previous government.

The immigration file will require particular attention given the government’s stated intentions. AIA Canada will want to make sure the industry’s labour needs are well understood and taken into account.

On training, discussions will focus on funding for Compétences VÉ, improving automotive DEP programs, assistance with buying professional tools and efforts to attract more young people to the sector’s trades.

The association will also continue to monitor the enforcement of right to repair legislation and maintain its discussions with the authorities responsible for implementing it.

Our pre-budget recommendations will serve as a starting point for structuring our work in Quebec over the coming months. We’ll keep you posted as these files evolve.

If you have any questions, please contact Emily Holtby, Vice-President, Government Relations, at Emily.holtby@aiacanada.com.