Head of Quebec's anti-corruption unit will step down next month

The head of Quebec's anti-corruption squad (UPAC)is steppingdown.

Robert Lafrenire has led UPAC since it was created in 2011. His last day will be Nov. 2, according to a UPAC spokesperson.

It is unclear why Lafrenire is leaving.

In 2016, Public Security Minister Martin Coiteux confirmed Lafrenire would return to the job. His five-year mandate had expired and while there were three people in the running, the government opted for continuity and chose to keep Lafrenire in his role.

Lafrenirehad a long career in policing before he was named to the unit.

In recent years, the unit has been plagued by information leaks to the media, and went to great lengths to uncover who was behind those leaks.

UPACinvestigators believe Liberal MNA Guy Ouellette had a hand in the scheme and arrested him, confiscated his cell phone and raided his homelast October.

Last week, Ouellette scored a victory when Quebec's Crown prosecutor's office announced it would not contest his request to have UPAC's search warrants invalidated, meaning police will not be able to use what they seized as evidence against him.