Que. judges probe a 'circus': Bellemare
Quebec's former justice minister Marc Bellemare says the commission looking into his allegations on how judges are nominated in the province has become a "pathetic circus."
The government and Liberal Party lawyers are out to ruin his reputation and are not trying to get behind the truth of the allegations, Bellemare told reporters before entering a Quebec City building to testify for the sixth time in front of the Bastarache commission.
The inquiry, headed by retired Supreme Court judge Michel Bastarache, was called by Quebec Premier Jean Charest after Bellemare went public with allegations that he was pressured by Liberal fundraisers to name certain people to the bench when he was justice minister in 2003 and 2004.
"Our justice system is not perfect, but it's certainly much better that the sorry spectacle unfolding here," Bellemare said, adding the commission is a waste of taxpayers' money.
Bellemare appears briefly
After making his statement, Bellemare was briefly back in front of the commission to answer questions regarding Wednesday's testimony of a handwriting expert.
Luc Brazeau, a forensic expert with the Canada Border Services Agency, looked at the scribbled, cardboard note that Bellemare had produced at a previous appearance as proof of his allegations.
Brazeau was unable to conclude when the words were written, but did determine that they were written with three different pens, he told the commission Wednesday.
Bellemare reiterated in front of the inquiry that all the information on the note was written within a five-day period just after he resigned as justice minister in 2004.
On Tuesday, Parti Québécois Leader Pauline Marois also blasted the commission, saying the inquiry seemed to be stacked against Bellemare.
Marois said there are three lawyers that are focusing all their attacks on Bellemare's reputation, namely the lawyers for the Quebec government, Quebec Liberals and Jean Charest himself.
The commission continues next week, when Bastarache is scheduled to hear testimony from the two Liberal fundraisers that Bellemare has accused of pressuring him, Franco Fava and Charles Rondeau.
Charest will also appear sometime next week.