Quebec suspends the boss of the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux

(Quebec) The Quebec government on Monday suspended the president of the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux (RACJ), Denis Dolbec, former chief of staff of the Minister of Finance Eric Girard, the mayor of Montreal Denis Coderre and the minister Serge Ménard under the Landry government.

He is “relieved of his functions” for an indefinite period, while the government carries out “verifications”, according to information that The Press obtained. They were corroborated by four sources who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about this matter. One of them specified that it would be linked to the working climate at the RACJ.

Mr. Dolbec’s suspension was announced internally on Monday afternoon, without explanation of the reasons. The Secretariat for Higher Employment, which communicated the decision to the RACJ, had still not responded to questions from The Press as these lines were written Monday evening. The Secretariat reports to the Ministry of Executive Council — the ministry of Prime Minister François Legault.

Denis Dolbec is suspended with pay; his annual salary is $215,000.

During the electoral victory of the Coalition Avenir Québec in 2018, Denis Dolbec worked on the transition of power and became chief of staff to the Minister of Finance, Eric Girard. The government appointed this lawyer to head the RACJ in 2020 — “a partisan appointment,” the opposition accused. As early as 2012, he gave a helping hand to a well-known CAQ candidate, Jacques Duchesneau, former boss of the City of Montreal Police Department.

Mr. Dolbec was chief of staff to Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre from 2013 to 2017. He entered the political world as press secretary under the Bouchard government. He was also chief of staff to Serge Ménard, for Public Security and Transport, under the Landry government.