Franois Blais takes over from Yves Bolduc as education minister

Premier Philippe Couillard has appointed Franois Blais the province's new education and post-secondary education minister as part of a cabinet shuffle announced in Quebec City this morning.

Blais takes over the challenging portfoliofrom Yves Bolduc, who quit politics yesterday after a series of controversies.

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Blais, the MNA forCharlesbourg, a riding in the Quebec City area, was previously minister of employment and social solidarity.

That position was handed to Sam Hamad, who will continue to serve as labour minister.

Pierre Arcand, meanwhile, will fillHamad'sold roleas minister responsible for theCte-Nord.

In his role as education minister, Blais will be faced withthe taskof consolidating the province's school boards. He will also need to address union strife andthe possibility of a strike among some university faculties.

Blais has plenty of university experience.

He has a doctorate in philosophy from Laval University, where he went on to teach.

He most recently served as dean of thefaculty of social sciences at the university beforemaking the switch to politics last year.