But each faces a summer of dicey decisions that could ramp up the pressure on the province's minority government. Premier Jean Charest, for one, is dealing with the possibility of losing a top minister, who could take a job with the private sector over the summer.

Health Minister Philippe Couillard acknowledged rumours that he is taking several weeks to rethink his political future.

"The reflection is not finished," Couillard told reporters Friday.

Couillard has been the province's health minister since the Liberals took power in 2003 and is seen as one of the more able members of Charest's cabinet.

"We'll give him his space," Charest said. "He's been an excellent health minister. He's done fantastic work. I hope he stays with the government."

Should Couillard decide to leave office, Charest will be tempted to shuffle his cabinet. On the other hand, he may not want to make dramatic changes to what so far has been a successful team.

"You can criticize us for many things, but you certainly can't take issue with the quality of our team," Charest said Friday as the national assembly wrapped up work for the summer.

Recent polls have suggested the Liberals are inching their way into majority territory, mainly at the expense of the Action democratique du Quebec.

At the same time, Charest has been criticized for ducking anything with even a whiff of controversy. His government has shelved a series of potentially polarizing reports, including one on the accommodation of immigrants.

A recent study by Montreal La Presse found the government's legislative agenda was so light that national assembly members worked the fewest number of hours in 10 years.

Opposition parties will take the summer to plot ways to puncture Charest's Teflon leadership.

The past several months have been particularly hard on Mario Dumont's ADQ, which has slipped into third-place in most polls after a surprising second-place finish in last year's election.

Dumont recognizes his caucus's performance was uneven at times and has vowed to push Charest for more ambitious governing.

"The government didn't do much, but the citizens seem happy," Dumont said. "It could be the flavour of the month, but at the heart of the matter, Quebec needs rigour, reform, change."

Things were somewhat more positive for the Parti Quebecois. Leader Pauline Marois said the PQ managed to establish itself as the legislature's true Opposition party.

She also attacked the Liberal's tendency to duck controversial decisions.

"They put serious people to work, solid people, who table reports and the next morning the report is in the garbage," Marois told reporters.

There has been speculation the PQ hopes to entice disgruntled ADQ members into its fold.

The Liberals have 48 seats in the national assembly, compared with 41 for the ADQ and 36 for the PQ.