QUEBEC – A lawyer representing Premier Jean Charest has written to Gérard Deltell, leader of Action démocratique du Québec, asking for a retraction of Deltell’s words describing the premier as “the godfather of the Liberal party.”
Deltell has until 5 p.m. Tuesday to comply before legal action is taken against him, a source close to the case confirmed.
An aide to Deltell confirmed the letter had been received, but said the ADQ leader had no immediate comment.
Deltell used the description of the premier, saying that while Charest tries to project a fatherly image, in fact, he is a “godfather.”
The remark came days after police confirmed that the Mafia plays a role in collusion to fix prices on construction contracts in Quebec.
Charest called for the retraction on Sunday. Some of his ministers said if Deltell did not retract, he should resign.
In April, Charest launched a $700,000 defamation suit against Marc Bellemare, his former justice minister, after Bellemare refused to retract his description of Charest as a “liar.”
The same day, Charest named Michel Bastarache, a retired justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, to preside over a public inquiry into Bellemare’s allegation that Liberal party fundraisers influenced the choice of Quebec Court judges.
Asked by a reporter on Sunday whether he intended to sue Deltell and call a public inquiry into the construction industry, Charest sidestepped the question.
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