AQMAT hails housing minister’s appointment

QUEBEC CITY — AQMAT has welcomed Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard’s appointment of Lise Thériault as minister responsible for consumer protection and housing. The provincial hardware industry group has been calling on successive governments to name a minister with the housing portfolio since 2010. AQMAT president Richard Darveau expressed his hope that Thériault would be given freedom to craft sustainable housing policies. Couillard, whose centre-right Liberals will defend their majority in next year’s election, announced a major cabinet shuffle this week, producing a more youthful and gender-balanced executive and fulfilling a campaign promise to create an anglophone relations portfolio.