She would also work at the Ministry of Culture and Communications as a Deputy Minister before being a member of the Board of Directors of the National Bank of Canada, Radio-Canada, the National Theater School of Canada and the Quebec Mental Health Foundation.
Courchesne entered politics in 2003, where she was elected as the MNA for Fabre while the Liberals regained power after nine years of governing by the Parti Québécois.
Following the 2008 election, she kept most of the portfolios but gave up the Ministry of Family to LaFontaine MNA Tony Tomassi.
Courchesne lost the Education portfolio to former Environment Minister Line Beauchamp in a 2010 cabinet shuffle and became President of the Treasury Board.
She regained the Education Minister position, as well as becoming Deputy Premier of Quebec, on May 14, 2012, following Beauchamp's resignation during the ongoing student protests over tuition hikes.