Bellemare will testify at Que. judges inquiry

Former Liberal cabinet minister Marc Bellemare has done an about-face and will testify at a provincial commission probing the way judges are nominated in Quebec.

Bellemare tried to quash a subpoena ordering him to co-operate with the inquiry headed by retired Supreme Court justice Michel Bastarache. 

But on Friday, in a brief statement, he said he changed his mind, saying police surveillance had put added pressure on him and his family.

Bellemare went public in April with allegations of influence peddling involving the Quebec Liberal Party and judges.

He presented his request Tuesday before Quebec Superior Court in an attempt to get out of testifying at the public inquiry.

That inquiry, called by Premier Jean Charest, is examining allegations that Liberal Party bagmen called the shots when it came to selecting judges in the province.

Bellemare is the key witness in the inquiry because he's the person who made the allegations of impropriety. He is scheduled to testify before the commission on Aug. 24.

He is also slated to appear before Quebec's director general of elections on Aug. 20.

Quebec's elections czar wants to know more about other allegations made by Bellemare about illegal fundraising practices by the Liberals.

Bellemare also tried to get out of testifying in that instance but lost that bid in Quebec Superior Court at the end of July.

Bellemare created the political tempest last spring, when he publicly stated that while he was justice minister in the Charest government — from 2003 to 2004 — he was pressured by party financiers to name certain judges favoured by Liberal donors to the bench.

He said he told Charest about the allegations and that the premier ignored him.

Charest vehemently denied the allegation and launched a defamation suit against Bellemare for $700,000.