Bellemare to fight order to testify

Former justice minister Marc Bellemare says he will appeal a judge's decision ordering him to testify before the province's chief electoral officer.

The Quebec Superior Court ruled Thursday that Bellemare must answer questions regarding allegations he made about influence peddling within his former political party.

Election officials asked the courts to force Bellemarre to talk, following his claims that while he was justice minister, he was pressured by Liberal fundraisers to nominate certain judges.

Bellmare was justice minister for a year, until April 2004.

In responding to the ruling, Bellemare said he is protected by his cabinet confidentiality oath and thinks Justice Yves Alain erred in his decision.

"We find it unacceptable to go before the Chief Returning Officer before the issue of the confidentiality policy is settled," he said.

Bellemare is to appear before the C.R.O. on Aug. 20, although he expects to get a decision from the Court of Appeal before then.

The former cabinet minister filed a motion last April to quash a subpoena from the office of the returning officer, which wanted him to testify after making allegations of political cronyism in the appointment of judges.

Bellemare alleges Liberal party donors would pick the people they wanted as judges, and the government would bend to their demands.

He said he tried raising his concerns with Premier Jean Charest and was ignored. Charest has responded by calling a public inquiry and he has sued Bellemare for defamation.

The judge ruled Thursday that it was too early to tell what questions the returning officer would pose or whether they would cause Bellemare to break his cabinet oath.

"The subpoena is clear," Alain ruled, saying it merely seeks Bellemare's explanation for his allegations of political favouritism.

"This challenge is premature and the questions that will be asked remain in the realm of hypothesis," the judge said.