Reaction to the new cabinet was swift and somewhat terse.

The PQ said the shuffle was nothing more than political musical chairs. Leader Pierre Karl Peladeau said the Liberals lack vision, a strategy and a business plan to work on Quebec's biggest problems.

In particular, the PQ took the government to task over Jacques Daoust's new job. He was the economy minister but was moved to transport, signalling that his time in charge of that portfolio was a failure, Peladeau said.

"It's a complete failure. it's an economic failure. unfortunately, what we've been seeing is that they're basically changing and they're not focusing on what should be done which is concentrate on making sure that there will be measures, measures that will [bring] Quebec in the right direction," he said.

The FAE, representing teachers among francophone school boards in and around Montreal, had only a few words to say regarding the newly appointed Education Minister Pierre Moreau: This better be the good one.

Moreau is the third education minister in the two-year-old Couillard government.

Yves Bolduc left government after being embroiled in a controversy concerning strip searches in schools, while Francois Blais generated animosity while leading the charge to restructure school boards.

The Federation Autonome des Enseignants walked away from negotiations, and was not able to reach an agreement in principle, unlike other teachers' unions in Quebec.

Other education groups were more positive about Moreau's appointment, with the Quebec English School Board Association expressing hope for a new dialogue.

"We are confident that the Minister will quickly call for a meeting of the Table Quebec-Commissions scolaires in order to gain a proper perspective of our public school systems and on the English minority community," said QEBSA President Jennifer Maccarone.

Political analyst Jean Lapierre said he believes Moreau is one of the best ministers in the National Assembly.

"He probably didn't ask for education, but he's the best person to take over the portfolio," said Lapierre.

CAQ Leader Francois Legault attacked Couillard's choices, saying they show a lack of ambition. Legault said the Liberals need to make education and the economy their priorities.

"Mr. Couillard has to act as a leader in charge of the economic development. It's not enough to change the minister, we also need to have a captain saying, 'That's where I'm going - this is my plan and I'll put together resources from the minister of finance and minister of economy and we have a solution.' But I don't see any solutions right now," he said.

Municipal Affairs: Martin Coiteux

The federation of police forces in Quebec (FPMQ) extended a hand in welcome to Martin Coiteux, the Minister now in charge of Municipal Affairs and Public Security.

Acknowledging that Quebec's Labour Code is expected to undergo significant changes, and that negotiations regarding pension plans must be completed soon, the FPMQ wrote that it hoped the government and Coiteux would be fair negotiators.

Lapierre said Coiteux was successful as Treasury Board president and may have been looking for a new challeng.

"He delivered the goods. If we're going to go to zero deficit, balanced budget, that's because of Martin Coiteux," said Lapierre.

He added that municipalities, which will be negotiating for new powers, will have a difficult battle.

"It's going to be a pretty rough negotiation. Every comma will be negotiated in that new bill," said Lapierre.

Economic development: Domenic Anglade

Lapierre said he was surprised by the large changes made to the cabinet, especially the addition of newcomer Dominique Anglade as Minister of Economic Development.

"She's going to have a hard time, because she knows the economy on paper, but across the aisle she's got Pierre Karl Peladeau who has made money," said Lapierre, adding that Francois Legault is also known as a shrewd businessman.

The leader of the second opposition said the shuffle was a sign that Couillard's government has failed in shepherding the economy and education

Lapierre added that Anglade will also face opposition from the backbenches.

"At the end of 2013 she was president of the Coalition Avenir Quebec. All those Liberals on the back bench that have been skipped over by Dominique Anglade are going to be watching her."