Quebec Ministry of Cybersecurity and Digital Technology dismantled

In Quebec, Treasury Board President Alain Therrien confirmed on November 2, 2026, that all employees of the Ministry of Cybersecurity and Digital Technology (MCN) had been placed under his authority. The Parti Québécois (PQ), which governs the province with a minority government, has effectively dismantled the MCN as an independent ministry.

The restructuring affects the entire administration, including Anne Nguyen, the newly appointed Minister Delegate for AI and Digital Technology, the six deputy ministers, and the ministry’s 2,000 employees. The decision marks a return to the previous administrative structure: responsibility for digital technology and cybersecurity fell under the Treasury Board before the MCN was established in 2022.

The government acknowledges that “the structural changes will require legislative amendments” but has chosen to implement the reorganisation without waiting for the National Assembly’s approval. Many MCN employees have criticised the decision. “What happens if the PQ fails to secure the National Assembly’s approval? The legislature will be presented with a fait accompli,” a source directly affected by the restructuring told Radio-Canada.

Former Minister of Cybersecurity and Digital Technology Gilles Bélanger, for his part, condemned what he described as “a purely cost-driven approach”, which he believes is aimed at “eliminating positions”.