Bernard Drainville's career: a snapshot

Bernard Drainville'snine-year career withQuebec's left-leaning Parti Qubcois was filled with surprise and backlash.

His unexpecteddeparture from politics comes as the partygears up to choose its next leader.

• PQ's Bernard Drainville to quit politics

Here are some key moments from Drainville'sstint as the PQ's house leader, an MNA and a minister.

Feb. 8, 2007: The jump

The Radio-Canada journalist promptly lefthis position as bureau chief in Quebec City to make the leap into politics.

• Bernard Drainville defends his jump to the PQ

Drainville announced his intention to run as an MNA for the PQ in the Marie-Victorin riding in Longueuil days after conducting an interview with the party's then-leader, Andr Boisclair, raising questions about whether he hadcrossed an ethical line.

The moveshockedmany of his colleagues and those in Quebec's tight-knit political circle.

Nov. 6, 2012: Taking on corruption

Many in Quebec's National Assembly didn't agree when Drainville tabled a bill that would impose a $100per year limit on individualdonations to provincialpolitical parties.

• PQ tables bill to limit party donations

The goal wasto curb corruption at the political level. The bill would pass into legislation and come into effect in 2013.

Sept. 10, 2013: The Charter

Drainville was the architect of the PQ'scontroversial and failed Bill 60, also known as the Quebec Charter of Values.

• Drainvilletables secular charter

The proposed legislationwould prohibit civil servants such as teachers, police officers and doctorsfrom wearing overt religious symbols while at work.

The minister stood by the secular charter through bouts of resistance across Quebec and Canada.

Oct. 27, 2014: The bid

Following the resignation offormer premier Pauline Marois, Drainvillethrew his hat into the leadership ring six months after the Quebec Liberals came to power.

• Drainvillleannounces leadership bid

Drainvilletold CBC Montreal at the time that if he became leader,he wouldn'thold a referendum on Quebec sovereignty in his first mandate.

Jan. 15, 2015: Charter 2.0

After the failure of Bill 60, Drainvilleputs forward a secondsecular charter after the original diedwhenthe PQ lost the 2014 election.

• Bernard Drainville unveils his new secular charter

He unveiled a softerversion of the Charter of Values, as the first one had been met with fierce opposition by some school boards, health-care institutions and municipalities.

"If you think the state should be neutral, then those who work for the state should embody this neutrality," Drainville said at the time.

April 22, 2015: The dropout

An emotional Drainville withdrew his leadership bid for the PQ and instead opted to support front-runner Pierre Karl Pladeau.

• Drainville fights back tears as he pulls out of PQ leadership race, supports PKP

"What I'm doing today isfor the unity of the party,"Drainvillesaid.

Drainville was considered to be Pladeau's primary competitor for the PQ leadership.

June 13, 2016: The resignation

Drainville will leave Quebec politics and step down from the PQ.

• Parti Qubcois MNA Bernard Drainville to quit politics

The house leader for the PQ is expected to take a host position at aQuebec City radio station.