LAVAL - The start of the Parti Quebecois's two-day winter caucus meeting Wednesday was derailed by the announcement a day earlier that two former high profile members were now working for Jean Charest's Liberal government.

The PQ caucus is meeting in Laval to map out its strategy for the next session in the National Assembly, while doing its best to capitalize on the unpopularity of the government.

But this week former premier Lucien Bouchard announced he would take over the reins of the Quebec Oil and Gas Association, while former PQ House leader Diane Lemieux is now in charge of the Construction Commission of Quebec (CCQ).

Until now the PQ has repeatedly criticized the Liberal government for operating a revolving door between government and the shale gas lobby, and of doing everything possible to avoid an inquiry into the construction industry.

But by crossing the floor and appointing Bouchard and Lemieux, the Liberals are being described as taking concrete steps to shore up areas that have been the target of criticism.

"Actually, I was really surprised," PQ environment critic Martine Ouellet said of the Bouchard appointment. "It's not because it's one person that's the spokesperson or another that it would make the difference."

Lemieux says her main job will be to clean up an organization that's been dogged by spending scandals.

PQ Leader Pauline Marois, who has pushed hard for a public inquiry into the construction industry, made light of the appointment.

"They felt the need to get a péquiste to clean things us," she said.

Bouchard, who has previously said that Quebec should abandon the move toward separation in favour of improving its economy, is tasked with selling shale gas expansion to the public.

But PQ energy critic Sylvain Gaudreault said Bouchard's presence should not be misconstrued as support for his party's view of the shale gas issue.

"Bouchard is there for the industry," he said. "He's not there for the population of Quebec."

Many PQ MNAs, including Bernard Drainville, were willing to offer both praise and criticism of the surprise appointments.

"It's a sign of quality, I suppose, you know, to prove that we've got great quality people within the Parti Quebecois," said Drainville.

For his part, finance critic Nicolas Marceau said he will continue to push for a moratorium on shale gas development, and a public inquiry into construction.

"Our positions have not changed," he said. "We respect those two persons, but the fundamentals of the problems remain."