He ran as a Liberal candidate in the provincial district of Beauce-Sud in the 1985 election and won.
He was appointed to Premier Robert Bourassa's cabinet in 1985 and was in charge of different portfolios, including communications and supply and services.
In 2008, Dutil founded the Union du centre political party; however, later that year he was elected as the Liberal candidate in the 2008 election in his old district of Beauce-Sud, and the Union du centre party later dissolved without ever running candidates for office.
Dutil became revenue minister on December 18, 2008, replacing Jean-Marc Fournier who did not seek a re-election.
Following a 2010 cabinet shuffle, Dutil was named minister of public safety, replacing Jacques Dupuis.