Franois Legault promises to govern for 'all Quebecers'

Franois Legault was sworn in as Quebec's premier on Thursday, officially launching a new era in provincial politics.

Legaultsaid the economy, education and health care willbepriorities for the first-ever Coalition Avenir Qubecgovernment.

"Today, we're not just forming a CAQgovernment. We are forming a government for all Quebecers," he said following the swearing-in ceremony byLt.-Gov. J. Michel Doyon.

He also said he would follow through on his pledge to ensure the secularism of the state, banning the wearing ofreligioussymbols bycivil servants in positions of authority.

And he promised to do more to fight "against global warming,"despite seriousconcerns among environmentalists thathis policies, including building more suburban roads, would fail to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

13 men, 13 women

Legault'scabinet consists of 13 men and 13 women, fulfilling a campaign promise to have a gender-balanced cabinet. Only two of them havepreviously held a cabinet position (one of thembeingLegaulthimself, under thePartiQubcois).

Among thosetaking on key roles in the CAQ governmentis DanielleMcCann, theformer head ofMontreal's regional public health authority.

ricGirard, who worked at the National Bank for 25 years, will be finance minister, andJean-FranoisRoberge, a former school teacher, will serve as education minister.

There is no anglophone voice at the cabinet table.

Christopher Skeete, an anglophone and theMNA for Sainte-Rose in Laval, has beenappointed aparliamentary assistant to the premier and will be in charge of the secretariat for relations with English-speakingQuebecers.

It's not a cabinet position, but Skeete will report directly to Legault, who has named himself officiallyresponsible for relations with English-speaking Quebecers.

In his speech, Legault said he would govern in a "respectful manner toward the historical" English community.

He also said he planned to meet soon with Indigenous leaders to establish improved relations.

TheCAQswept to power intheOct. 1election, winning 74 seats in the 125-seat legislature. That gives them a comfortable majority over the Opposition Liberals, who have 29 seats.

This is thefirst time since 1970 nearly half a century that Quebec is governed by a party other than the Liberals orPQ.