Saturday, January 22, 2011

Quebec Digest: A few good days for Mr. Charest

With the retired Supreme Court Judge Michel Bastarache releasing his findings this week into the questions of influence peddling in Quebec's political sphere, the signal has been sent that in his opinion Premier Charest committed no fouls in the pursuit of judicial appointments. Lifting a weight off of the Premier's shoulders that had been pressing down on him for the last year.

The accusations of former justice minister Marc Bellemare painted much of the political portrait for politics in Quebec in the last year, casting much suspicion on the long running government of Charest and buoying up the forces of the Parti Quebecois who were making some political hay at the odour of scandal and visuals of a tired government that was dominating events from the Quebec National Assembly.

With the rejection of patronage accusations by the retired Mr. Justice Bastarache, the Quebec political scene continues to percolate over the state of the Liberal government, the ambitions of the PQ to make a return to power and indeed what may be the future of Premier Charest now that there is the perception that vindication as his to claim.

Though as some reports detail, all apparently is not accepted, nor necessarily forgiven in Quebec at the moment, making for for yet more interesting times for the province.

Some of the reviews from a busy week can be found below.

Montreal Gazette-- Bastarache unlikely to sway public opinion
Montreal Gazette-- Charest breathes sigh of relief
Montreal Gazette-- Bellemare hits radio circuit to bash Bastarache
Globe and Mail-- Premier Charest is vindicated
Globe and Mail-- Polls suggest Quebeckers don’t accept corruption inquiry findings
Toronto Star-- Charest can now exit with some grace
CBC-- Bastarache report mandate flawed: PQ leader

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