The minister for energy and the economy in Premier François Legault’s cabinet will leave the post just before the fall sitting of the National Assembly, multiple news outlets reported. Montreal’s La Presse broke the story before a planned announcement Wednesday, saying Fitzgibbon had wanted to leave in December, but Legault insisted he go immediately. (La Presse)

Talking point: Legault had assigned his longtime friend to use Quebec’s vast hydroelectric potential to reshape the provincial economy and help it profit from the green energy transition. The same brashness that made Fitzgibbon a political force sometimes led to serious problems, including his previous resignation under an ethical cloud in 2021. Furthermore, putting Hydro-Québec’s resources at the world’s disposal will not be cheap for consumers at home. After winning a huge majority in 2022, the Coalition Avenir Québec government is on the ropes, potentially putting Fitzgibbon’s Montreal-area seat at risk.