Why Bellemare set out on a campaign of vengeance is not clear. Perhaps it was his frustration over the cabinet's decision not to support changes to Quebec's no-fault automobile insurance plan, his pet project, or the situation in relation to his stripper daughter. As I recounted in a previous post she was overheard by police in wiretaps associating with Hell's Angels members at a time when the provincial police were preparing a mega strike against the bikers. Bellemare, as Justice Minister was privy to details and somebody (likely the police) leaked details of his daughter to the Press, in order to sink the minister.
Because Bellemare had been on the job for less than a week, it would have looked bad to fire him so soon. Instead, Premier Charest asked somebody in the Justice Ministry to spy on Bellemare and report back to the Premiers' office, something I can imagine didn't sit well with the Justice Minister.
Way back in April, I told you about these details and I warned that Bellemare was on a campaign of 'salisage,' as they say in French. Read The Curious Case Of Marc Bellemare.
When the Bastarache Commission was called in reaction to his charges, Bellemare proved unable to come up with an ounce of backup, his only evidence, a piece of paper with some chicken scrawl, which he claimed were his notes. Read Marc Bellemare Going Down in Flames
The Chief Election Officer demanded that Bellemare meet with him to explain his allegations that the Liberals were accepting bags of illegal cash contributions, but Bellemare went to court to avoid the obligation to appear. He promptly lost that appeal.
He finally met with election officials last April and last week Marcel Blanchet filed his report and told reporters that;
Readers should be reminded that in a March 15 media interview, Bellemare affirmed that construction companies financed the Quebec Liberal Party.
Bellemare's reaction to the condemnation is typical, he attacked the messenger.
While Judge Bastarache is supposed to make his report based only on what he heard at the inquiry, it is unlikely that the report from the Chief Election Officer won't have an effect.
For Bellemare, the next phase in the unfolding tragedy, is the lawsuit that the Premier launched against him.
In the civil trial for defamation, the onus is clearly on Bellemare to prove that what he alleged is true, something he has failed miserably to do already. Based on what we heard at the Commission and the devastating report from the Chief Election Officer, perhaps it's time for Bellemare to throw in the towel, apologize and plead for mercy. If this goes to trial, it will be another unmitigated disaster for the ex-Justice Minister. While awards for defamation in Canada are traditionally low, nothing like those in the USA, it might still be quite hefty. Proving the damage part has always been the difficult part in cases like this, but even a raving separatist would have to admit that Charest was badly hurt by the allegations.
The unravelling of Bellemare is reminiscent of ex-Olympian Myriam Bédard who went off the deep end, but not before costing Jean Pelletier his job at Via Rail. Bédard charged publicly that Via Rail was involved in all sorts of corruption and in reaction Pelltier denigrated Bédard saying "Deep down, I think she is pitiful."
"there's nothing to support what he says....(he) could not testify or recall any concrete act leading one to believe that infractions of this law were committed."Not only did Bellemare fail to provide a shred of evidence, he even admitted that he never saw any illegal cash transactions. In consequence, the investigation was dropped like a lead balloon. Link
Readers should be reminded that in a March 15 media interview, Bellemare affirmed that construction companies financed the Quebec Liberal Party.
Bellemare's reaction to the condemnation is typical, he attacked the messenger.
"The institution has a serious credibility problem," argued the former minister yesterday. "Because it's always been the way they conduct their investigations, it's understandable that in Quebec there is much skepticism surrounding the financing of political parties." LINK frBellemare's performance at the Bastarache Commission was particularly underwhelming and it is likely that the final report will not be kind to the ex-Justice minister.
While Judge Bastarache is supposed to make his report based only on what he heard at the inquiry, it is unlikely that the report from the Chief Election Officer won't have an effect.
For Bellemare, the next phase in the unfolding tragedy, is the lawsuit that the Premier launched against him.
In the civil trial for defamation, the onus is clearly on Bellemare to prove that what he alleged is true, something he has failed miserably to do already. Based on what we heard at the Commission and the devastating report from the Chief Election Officer, perhaps it's time for Bellemare to throw in the towel, apologize and plead for mercy. If this goes to trial, it will be another unmitigated disaster for the ex-Justice Minister. While awards for defamation in Canada are traditionally low, nothing like those in the USA, it might still be quite hefty. Proving the damage part has always been the difficult part in cases like this, but even a raving separatist would have to admit that Charest was badly hurt by the allegations.
The unravelling of Bellemare is reminiscent of ex-Olympian Myriam Bédard who went off the deep end, but not before costing Jean Pelletier his job at Via Rail. Bédard charged publicly that Via Rail was involved in all sorts of corruption and in reaction Pelltier denigrated Bédard saying "Deep down, I think she is pitiful."
Turns out he was right, as Bédard then made more outlandish and ridiculous claims, that finally had people realizing that she was nuts. From then on, her life went decidedly downhill. LINK.
The complete rejection of Bellemare by the Chief Election Officer is little comfort to the Premier, the damage has already been dome.
Like someone found innocent of pedophilia, after a lengthy trial, the stink is hard to wash off.
As the looming defamation trial looms, watch for Bellemare to crack.
You hear it here first...
The complete rejection of Bellemare by the Chief Election Officer is little comfort to the Premier, the damage has already been dome.
Like someone found innocent of pedophilia, after a lengthy trial, the stink is hard to wash off.
As the looming defamation trial looms, watch for Bellemare to crack.
You hear it here first...
