Quebec justice minister quits

Canadian Press

(Quebec)  Quebec Justice Minister Marc Bellemare, concerned with the pace
of his government's no-fault insurance reforms, quit politics Tuesday to
continue defending accident victims in court.

The Quebec City lawyer, who ran on a promise to reform the no-fault system,
said he no longer wanted to seek the changes within the Liberal government.
"I have much respect for people who work in politics but I think it's
not my place", Mr. Bellemare, 47, told a news conference. "I will
come back to the people that I accepted to defend for 23 years before my
election".

He handed his resignation letter to Premier Jean Charest on Tuesday morning.

Mr. Bellemare said the government is moving too slowly on legislative
changes that would allow accident victims to sue convicted drivers. There
hasn't yet been a bill on reform in this area that needs to be reformed
quickly.

Mr. Bellemare had denied a report in March that he would quit over the
Liberal government's decision to delay the proposed no-fault reforms. He
has pushed the province to allow lawsuits against convicted drunk and
reckless drivers who cause accidents - actions which are now banned under
the system.

The proposed bill would also strip convicted motorists of the right to
compensation. The government won't table the no-fault bill until the fall,
after a round of public consultations. Mr. Bellemare wanted the reforms to
be implemented this spring.

Twenty-five years ago, Quebec introduced automobile insurance that used a
formula to compensate anyone injured in a car accident, regardless of
fault.
But critics have highlighted cases in which drivers convicted of a road
offence in a collision received more compensation than the crash victims.

Mr. Bellemare will be replaced as justice minister by government House
Leader Jacques Dupuis.

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