arseneau was first elected as an mna for îles-de-la-madeleine in 1998 and was named the delegate minister for tourism and the minister responsible for the gaspésie-îles-de-la-madeleine region. after bernard landry replaced lucien bouchard as premier of quebec, arseneau was named in 2001 the minister of agriculture, fisheries and food. arseneau was re-elected in 2003 and 2007. he was the pq's critic in agriculture, fisheries and food. he did not seek re-election in the 2008 provincial elections.