The Ethics Commissioner of the National Assembly will investigate the appointment by the Minister of Justice, Simon Jolin-Barrette, of one of his friends as a judge at the Court of Quebec.
The opening of this investigation, announced Monday in a press release, follows a request made by Liberal MP Monsef Derraji after the revelation of the controversial nature of this appointment by the newspaper The sun last week.
Simon Jolin-Barrette appointed 36-year-old Charles-Olivier Gosselin to the post of judge of the Court of Quebec, a friend whose marriage he celebrated, then revealed the daily. He was admitted to the Bar in 2011.
The Minister defended himself by stating that “Judge Gosselin’s candidacy was considered on merit”, but then admitted that if a similar situation arises again, he will notify the members of Cabinet, which he had not done in this case.
In accordance with her methods, the Commissioner specifies that she will conduct her investigation behind closed doors and that no comments will be made during the process.