SHERBROOKE | Justice Secretary Simon Jolin-Barrette was “fully aware” that appointing a friend as judge whose wedding he was celebrating in particular would cause big waves, and he “fully believes” in it.
• Also read: The appointment of a friend of Simon Jolin-Barrette as judge “creates serious concern,” opposition parties say
“Listen, I’m perfectly aware that naming someone I have connections with would inevitably have a resonance because I’ve never hidden from the connections I have with Richter (Charles-Olivier) Gosselin said Minister Jolin-Barrette upon his arrival at the Congress of the Coalition avenir Québec, which opened in Sherbrooke on Saturday.
“It’s not a hiding place […] “Everyone knew that I knew Judge Gosselin,” the Minister of Justice continued to defend himself to the journalists.
The Prime Minister knew nothing about it
How then can it be explained that Prime Minister François Legault found out about it in the newspapers?
“In fact, the appointments are not debated in the Council of Ministers,” countered Mr Jolin-Barrette.
“All the rules were observed,” repeated the Minister of Justice.
He then clarified that his connections were primarily known to “everyone in the Quebec courthouse” and in the Capitale-Nationale district.
“I know several people, I’ve been working in the legal industry for 15 years, so it’s likely and possible that I know people in all the candidates who submit their application,” noted the Borduas MP.
In this context, the Minister of Justice fails to see why he should “prevent” everyone he knows from becoming a judge.
An appointment “on merit”
When asked whether he recognized the appearance of a conflict of interest, Mr. Jolin-Barrette indicated that all members of the independent selection panel agreed that Mr. Gosselin was a competent lawyer and that he was prepared to assume the judicial functions.
“He is a high quality candidate and the appointment was made on his merit, regardless of the relationship between him and me my recommendation was not taken into account,” affirmed Mr. Jolin-Barrette.
During a press conference, chief executive François Legault also reiterated that all procedures were being followed. He doesn’t think it necessary to see her again.
“Remember Mrs. Post-It. Remember the policies that have existed in certain governments before us. It was the Friends of the Party who were chosen, we are an independent committee.”
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