A former opposition ag critic for Quebec’s governing Coalition Avenir (CAQ) has been named the province’s new minister of agriculture, fisheries and food.
As part of a wider cabinet shuffle, Premier Francois Legault on Wednesday appointed Donald Martel, MNA for the riding of Nicolet-Becancour since 2012, to the ag minister’s post and as minister responsible for the Centre-du-Quebec region.
On the ag portfolio, Martel replaces Andre Lamontagne, who’d led the ag ministry (MAPAQ) since 2018. Media outlets have reported Lamontagne, the MNA for Johnson since 2014, has decided not to seek re-election and did not attend the federal/provincial/territorial (FPT) agriculture ministers’ meeting this week in Winnipeg.
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Lamontagne said Monday on X it had been a “great honour” to serve as ag minister and that he would continue as MNA for Johnson. The next provincial election is scheduled for Oct. 5, 2026 if Legault does not call one before that date.
Before entering provincial politics, Martel had served as director-general and secretary-treasurer for the regional municipality (MRC) of Nicolet-Yamaska, south of Trois-Rivieres. He then ran unsuccessfully as a candidate for the Parti Quebecois (PQ) in the riding then known as Nicolet-Yamaska in 2007 before joining the CAQ.
After winning the Nicolet-Becancour seat in 2012 for the CAQ, Martel served as that party’s second-opposition ag, fisheries and food critic (2012-14, 2017) and sat on the Quebec assembly’s agriculture, fisheries, energy and natural resources committee during those stints. He also served in other critic posts for the CAQ, and as party whip (2014-18).
After the CAQ formed government in 2018, Martel served as a parliamentary assistant to the premier (2018-22) and as parliamentary assistant to the economy, innovation and energy minister (2022-25).
