Quebec premier Jean Charest shuffles cabinet

KEVIN DOUGHERTY
Postmedia News

QUEBEC — The departure of Nathalie Normandeau from his cabinet gave Quebec Premier Jean Charest the opportunity to add a “fresh set of eyes” to his government Wednesday, as he brought back one cabinet veteran and changed the ministerial responsibilities of four of his current ministers.

Normandeau was deputy premier, minister of natural resources, minister responsible for the ambitious Plan Nord investment program in the natural resources of northern Quebec and minister responsible the Gaspe-Iles-de-la-Madeleine region.

Line Beauchamp, while keeping her education, recreation and sports portfolio, becomes deputy premier.

Clement Gignac moves from economic development to natural resources, and inherits the Plan Nord.

Geoff Kelley remains the native affairs minister.

Charest explained that he did not add new faces because he did not want to expand his 26-member cabinet.