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QUEBEC – Public Security Minister Lise Thériault is taking a temporary leave of absence from the National Assembly due to health reasons.

The Premier’s Office said in a press release Thursday that Municipal Affairs Minister Pierre Moreau will replace Thériault during her leave.

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Rumours had been circulating early Thursday morning the minister had the flu, when she failed to show up for Question Period.

“She has health problems, and it’s between her and her doctor,” said Thériault’s press attaché, Émilie Simard. “We hope she will recover and come back to work soon.”

Thériault has been under fire lately for her handling of the crisis in Val-d’Or, where Sûreté du Québec officers are alleged to have sexually assaulted at least 12 aboriginal women.

She broke down in tears last Friday during a press conference in which she said the alleged police wrongdoing was “troubling and shocking.”

The Parti Québécois said her behaviour was “erratic” and called for her head. The PQ already asked once for her resignation — following the escape of three prisoners by helicopter last year from the Orsainville prison. “The way she has managed this whole file goes to show that she doesn’t have the competence, she doesn’t have the judgment, she’s had a very erratic way of dealing with what happened in Orsainville and she’s had again the same very erratic way of dealing with what happened in Val-d’Or,” PQ House Leader Bernard Drainville said this week.