Federal Tourism Minister Mélanie Joly said in a year-end interview with TVA Nouvelles that she went through a "difficult period" at the beginning of 2018, and described her cabinet demotion in the summer as a "great opportunity."
Less than a year ago, while she was still serving as Heritage Minister, Joly garnered much criticism from Quebec during the debate over how — or whether — to tax Netflix.
She told TVA that following the public anger over her handling of the file, she "rolled into a ball and cried a few nights."
Many political observers pointed to the Netflix debacle as a key reason why she was moved to the more junior ministries of tourism and official languages during the summer cabinet shuffle. Joly admitted that "at first, I asked myself if it was good news."
However, she said that she's since grown into the role and is excited by the work she has gotten to do in the portfolio.
Once a big name in municipal politics, Joly was recruited as a star candidate for the federal Liberals in 2015, when she won the seat of Ahuntsic-Cartierville from the New Democrats. The 39-year-old indicated she'll run for re-election in the riding in 2019.