setUoYouRPROFILE's blog: "tufui"

QUEBEC - Premier Jean Charest is expected to announce a public inquiry into Quebec's construction industry later Wednesday. But the precise nature of what he will say remains unclear. In a statement from the premier's office, reporters were summoned to a 4:15 p.m. briefing, following by a news conference where Charest will make "an important announcement." He will be accompanied by Justice Minister Jean-Marc Fournier and Public Security Minister Robert Dutil. Charest has resisted calls for a public inquiry,Longchamp Outlet in spite of wide-spread allegations of corruption and collusion to fix bids on public-sector construction contracts. Sylvie Roy, the Action démocratique du Québec MNA who first called for a public inquiry in 2009, expressed skepticism Wednesday about the premier's intentions, noting that he must face a three-day convention of his Quebec Liberal Party starting Friday. “It is a trick to not answer the public and to pacify the Liberal membership for the weekend," Roy told reporters. “It has been 927 days since I asked for a public inquiry," she added "I calculate that $23 million a day is spent on infrastructure and we haven’t started the Plan Nord. “This is enough. We need a public inquiry.” Charest would not answer questions from Parti Québécois leader Pauline Marois in the National Assembly question period earlier Wednesday about his intentions regarding a public inquiry. "You informed your caucus," Marois said. "You should tell the National Assembly." Charest replied that whatever he proposes, Marois will oppose, pursuing her "scorched earth" approach. He called on Marois to tell him how the provincial government can call a public inquiry while at the same time protecting the evidence police have accumulated, ensuring the prosecution of those involved and shielding witnesses. Marois did not reply, as per the practice at question period, when the opposition asks questions and the government is expected to answer. Marois asked whether the inquiry Charest has hinted he will call would be public and transparent, or closed, and whether it would be constituted under Quebec's public inquiries law, which gives full independence to the committee, within its mandate. Charest did not address Marois’ questions; instead, he repeated his own questions and said the government has already taken steps to deal with corruption.