Former Parti Québécois legislature member Pascal Paradis has been named the province’s chief negotiator and diplomat.
Premier-designate Paul St-Pierre Plamondon says Paradis is the best person for the job because of his personal and professional background.
“With this appointment, we are choosing to rely on experience and competence to support our government in several crucial missions. I’m very proud to be able to welcome Pascal back to our team,” he said in a social media post.
The former executive director of Lawyers Without Borders Canada will be asked to meet with Indigenous nations and to represent the province during trade negotiations between Canada and the United States.
The 55-year-old lost the Quebec City riding of Jean-Talon to a Quebec Liberal candidate earlier this month in the Oct. 5 provincial election.
His defeat shocked the party, which will form a minority government without winning a single seat in the provincial capital.
St-Pierre Plamondon had already hinted that he was considering a new role for Paradis, who was a prominent voice for the party in the legislature.
“His mandate will include maintaining solid, lasting and trusting relationships with Indigenous nations,” a party spokesperson said.
“He will be called upon to maintain a constant dialogue and to act as one of the government’s main interlocutors, ensuring that communication channels remain open and productive.”
The PQ says Paradis will assist the province’s international relations minister and will also report directly to the premier.
He will also serve as the province’s chief negotiator during free-trade talks with the United States. While the province won’t be negotiating with the U.S. directly, “we want Quebec to be at the table,” the party said.
The outgoing Coalition Avenir Québec government had previously named Louise Blais to the negotiator’s role.
Paradis won the Jean-Talon riding in a 2023 byelection, and was the only PQ legislature member to represent the Quebec City region. He lost the riding to Liberal candidate Julie White, while the Conservative Party won the majority of the seats in the region.
A lawyer by training, Paradis spent more than 25 years working in international relations across the Americas, Europe, and Africa.
His work has included projects in the field of infrastructure, international transactions, trade and energy.
He also served as the executive director of Lawyers Without Borders Canada for 20 years, where he was credited with helping to implement dozens of projects.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 19, 2026.
By Patrice Bergeron | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.