Bellemare to testify at Que. judges inquiry

Quebec's former justice minister, Marc Bellemare, will testify Tuesday on allegations of partisan interference in the selection of the province's judges, as a poll suggests his credibility with Quebecers is higher than the premier's.

The Bastarache commission of inquiry, chaired by former Supreme Court judge Michel Bastarache, was officially launched in June in Quebec City.

Bellemare's testimony is expected to last two days.

Quebec Premier Jean Charest ordered the inquiry in April after Bellemare alleged that while serving as justice minister in 2003 and 2004, he was pressured to name certain judges to the bench based on the recommendations of major Liberal Party fundraisers.

Meanwhile, an Angus Reid poll commissioned by French-language daily La Presse suggests that Quebecers trust Bellemare more than Charest in this affair.

Fifty-three per cent of the 804 adults polled said they find Bellemare more credible than the Charest government, compared to only 12 per cent who favoured the Liberals.

The poll also suggests that 59 per cent of Quebecers believe Bellemare's statement that the premier was aware of influence peddling in the naming of judges.

The poll is considered accurate within 3.46 percentage points.

Angus Reid's vice-president of public opinion, Jaideep Mukerji, said the results of the poll could be due to two factors.

"One of them is the fact that Mr. Charest and his government just aren't that popular at the moment, in part because of these allegations, in part because it's their third mandate," said the pollster.

Mukerji said that Quebec has been rocked by accusations of collusion and corruption in government, at both the municipal and provincial level, and that wider perception of corruption has also influenced Quebecers' opinions.

"Which is why I think Quebecers are willing to give a certain amount of credibility or benefit of the doubt to Mr. Bellemare's accusations," Mukerji said.

This despite Bellemare's actions after going public with his allegations last spring.

He had refused to testify in front of the Bastarache commission, saying it could not possibly be partial, nor would it get to the root of the problem.

The key witness also launched a legal challenge to dissolve the inquiry.

Bellemare abruptly changed his mind on Aug. 12, announcing he would appear before the Bastarache commission.

The Parti Québecois has dismissed the commission, saying it's simply expensive political theatre.

The PQ's justice critic, Véronique Hivon, said the process will cost taxpayers between $5 million and $6 million.

Hivon said the opposition doesn't expect much from the public inquiry because the process is not credible.

However, political analyst Yves Boisvert said the inquiry may help taxpayers.

"It can be an opportunity to have a better process [of choosing judges]," said Boisvert. "That would not be a complete waste of time."