Quebec premier shuffles cabinet after transport minister resignation

Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard has shuffled his cabinet following the resignation of his transport minister Friday afternoon.

Laurent Lessard will replace Jacques Daoust as transport minister, while Luc Blanchette will take over Lessard’s duties as minister of forests, wildlife and parks.

Daoust, 68, had faced mounting criticism in recent months over his alleged role in authorizing the sale of a Quebec hardware chain while he was the province’s economy minister.

Although Daoust maintained he didn’t know about Investissement Quebec’s decision to sell its shares in Rona, emails sent in 2014 and obtained by TVA suggested the vice-president of the provincial investment agency had been given the go-ahead from Daoust’s former chief of staff.

Daoust announced he was leaving politics late Friday afternoon, hours after Couillard indicated the minister no longer had his full confidence.