Bellemare contradicted at Que. judges probe

Two former aides of Marc Bellemare, Quebec's justice minister in 2003 and 2004, contradicted the key witness's testimony at a provincial inquiry into judicial nominations in Quebec City Monday.

Marc Bellemare had said during previous testimony at the Bastarache commission that both Michel Gagnon, his former chief of staff, and Jacques Tétrault, his former press attaché, knew about the pressure he says he faced from Liberal Party fundraisers to appoint certain people to the bench.

The inquiry, headed by retired Supreme Court judge Michel Bastarache, was called by Premier Jean Charest after Bellemare went public with his allegations of influence peddling last spring.

When asked Monday how he felt when he heard about the allegations, Bellemare's former presse aide, Tétrault, said he was "bowled over."

"I don't understand why [Bellemare] didn't tell us about it," said Tétrault. "It was news to me," Tétrault said.

Former chief of staff, Michel Gagnon, also said news of the allegations last spring came as a complete surprise to him.

"If Mr. Bellemare had told me that, I would have tried to protect him from the people who were pressuring him," Gagnon told the inquiry.

Bellemare's testimony that the two men were around when Liberal fundraisers Franco Fava and Charles Rondeau tried to persuade the former justice minister to nominate certain judges was also denied.

Both men swore that they did not have dinner at swanky Quebec City restaurants with the Liberal fundraisers, further damaging Bellemare's credibility.

Tétrault and Gagnon also said Bellemare was not prepared for his role as justice minister, and spoke of the chaotic atmosphere under his reign.

The commission continues in Quebec City today, with testimony from Michel Bouchard, who served as deputy justice minister from 1993 to 2003, and Bouchard's successor, Louis Dionne.

Bellemare will be back for more testimony on Thursday.