QUEBEC — Quebec's premier paid tribute Wednesday to a youthful member of his cabinet who died from cancer, announcing there will be a state funeral for Claude Bechard.

Premier Jean Charest said funeral details were still being worked out with Bechard's family.

The 41-year-old held a variety of roles and continued in the intergovernmental affairs and agriculture portfolios until shortly before he died.

Charest said he opposed his minister's decision to keep working and that he offered to relieve Bechard of his duties so he could focus on getting better.

But he said Bechard refused and wanted to keep working until the end.

"Before politics, there is life," Charest said.

"And for Claude, politics was his life."

Charest told a news conference Wednesday that he was moved by all the kind wishes he's heard from Quebecers.