Bellemare must testify about judge selection claims

A Quebec Superior Court judge has ruled that former Liberal cabinet minister Marc Bellemare will have to appear before the chief electoral officer to explain explosive allegations he made about influence peddling within his former political party.

Bellemare went to court to challenge a subpoena that would force him to answer questions at a provincial commission reviewing Quebec's judge nomination process.

The former justice minister alleges that while he was in office in 2003, the process of selecting judges was heavily influenced by Liberal Party donors.

Since making his claims in public last spring, Bellemare has backtracked, saying he can't elaborate on his allegations because of confidentiality issues surrounding cabinet secrecy.

On Thursday, Judge Yves Alain dismissed that argument, ruling Bellemare has no immunity and was abusing court procedure by challenging the subpoena. 

Premier Jean Charest ordered a provincial commission to investigate judge nominations after Bellemare went public with his allegations in March.

Bellemare claimed that while he was justice minister, he was pressured by Liberal organizers to favour certain judge nominees. The allegations have not been proven in court.

Charest issued an order of cabinet before breaking for summer to suspend the obligation of confidentiality for Bellemare.

He has also sued his former justice minister for $700,000 for defamation.

Bellemare is set to appear before the chief electoral officer on Aug. 20.