Pauline Marois backtracks on appointment of former PQ leader to government job

QUEBEC – Premier Pauline Marois is backtracking on her government’s decision to give former Parti Quebecois leader Andre Boisclair a lucrative government job.

The Marois government announced in early November that Boisclair had become Quebec’s delegate-general to New York.

It then emerged this week that Boisclair had also been named assistant deputy minister in the International Relations Department.

News of the assistant deputy-minister position sparked outrage among political pundits and opposition parties.

Some people accused the government of favouritism and ”indecency” at a time when Quebecers are being told to tighten their belts.

Marois told a news conference in Quebec City today that because of the controversy Boisclair will no longer take the job in the International Relations Department. He will keep his position in New York.

Marois says she decided to act swiftly because she didn’t want her government attacked on ethical questions.

Had he kept the two jobs, the 46-year-old Boisclair would have been guaranteed an annual salary of $170,000 and been able to start taking his full pension at the age of 55.