Vincent Lacroix, founder and former CEO of Norbourg (centre). Photograph by : Natasha Fillion, Gazette file photo

By PHILIP AUTHIER - ORFORD - Quebec Justice Minister Kathleen Weil is living in a state of denial and a “parallel universe,” for saying Quebec's justice system is working well after Tuesday's mistrial in the Norbourg financial scandal, the Parti Québécois said Wednesday.

With critics and victims blasting Quebec's crown prosecutors for biting off more then they could chew in going to court with a whopping 722 charges, leaving a befuddled jury confused and deadlocked, PQ justice critic Véronique Hivon said Weil's comments leave her wondering what purpose a minister of justice serves anyway.

She accused Weil of failing to show leadership not assuming her responsibilities for not asking more questions about just what happened in the case and the Crown's choice of strategy.

Even the judge in the case said public authorities need to do some soul searching in the case, Hivon noted.

“I want the minister of justice to get out of her denial state and to say questions have to be answered,” Hivon said. “That's her role as minister of justice - to investigate what was the strategy and if it was the right strategy and make sure such a failure of our system doesn't reproduce itself.

“Does she realize that she is the first person responsible for the administration of justice in Quebec ?” Hivon asked. “If she does not take her responsibilities, if she doesn't ask questions, if she does not ask people to account (for their actions) I wonder who will in Quebec ?”

At the very least, Weil should have recognized that a mistrial is the equivalent of a failure and questions need to be asked of those responsible for the case, Hivon said on her way into a two-day meeting of the PQ caucus to prepare for the resumption of work at the National Assembly Feb. 9. “Did we really need to try all those people in the same trial ?

“Were 700 (fraud) charges realistic ?

“I say the minister of justice has to ask questions and get to the bottom of this.”

In Quebec Tuesday, Weil said she saw no problem with the justice system even though defence lawyers Tuesday complained the Norbourg case has been a succession of errors.

“The justice system is working properly, the justice system is working very well in Quebec,” Weil said. “I have no worries whatsoever when it comes to this.

“It happens often in the history of justice that the public is satisfied or dissatisfied. It's daily. But the administration of public justice has to remain independent of political bodies.”

Hivon was not buying it, though.

“I think the average Quebecer is very shaken by what happened yesterday. After four months after millions spent, after 12 days of deliberations (they produce) there is a dead end ? It's very worrisome.

“We are very disappointed, to say the least, to see the minister of justice is unable to do any criticism whatsoever of the system.”

pauthier thegazette.canwest.com