One of the better-known members of the Coalition Avenir Quebec is resigning as an MNA.
Christian Dubé has accepted a position with the Caisse de Depot et Placements, where he will be a vice-president in charge of investing in Quebec businesses.
Before joining the CAQ in 2012 Dubé was a vice president with Cascades paper company.
"For me there was a continuity, a coherence in this decision," said Dubé.
In a statement the Caisse said Dubé's task will be to direct investments in Quebec businesses, especially small and medium-sized firms throughout the province.
During Dubé's brief political career he served as the CAQ's public finance critic and was a frequent advocate for reducing government deficit and eliminating the healthcare tax.
He was re-elected this past April with more than 40 percent of ballots cast in his riding of Levis.
He begins his new job on September 15 and he will not be any severance pay for leaving politics.
Caisse de depot president Michael Sabia said that he picked Dube because he shares an interest in developing small and medium sized businesses, “the motor of growth in Quebec.”
“You have to seize opportunities like this,” Dube said of the $215,000 annual post.
“I’m disappointed to see him leave the CAQ but he can advance the party’s ideas in his new position,” said party leader Francois Legault.
Other top CAQ Future Coalitionists that have left in recent times include MNA Gaetan Barrette, party president Domiique Anglade and former MNA Jacques Duchesneau.
Quebec Treasury President Martin Coiteux saluted the departure of a respected adversary.
"Dube was an opponent with interesting ideas that he liked to debate. No party or person has a monopoly on good ideas,” said Coiteux. Both Coiteux and Dube agreed on the precarious state of public finances and the drastic measures required to attack the problem. Premier Philippe Couillard saluted Dube as a “man of quality.”
The by-election to replace Dube will cost taxpayers an estimated $500,000.
-With a file from The Canadian Press
