Quebec Premier Jean Charest has announced a dramatic reversal in the province's inquiry into corruption in the construction industry.

Since announcing the inquiry earlier this week, the government has been under fire for refusing to give the commission power to subpoena witnesses to testify.

The government said doing so could jeopardize criminal investigations. But many groups, including the Quebec Bar Association, said it was a mistake to deny the commissioner the power to compel witnesses to testify.

Critics argued anyone with anything self-incriminating to say would simply refuse to appear.

'We will grant that power'

Friday night, at the opening of the Liberal Party's convention in Quebec City, Charest said witnesses could be forced to testify after all.

"If they need the power to constrain witnesses to do their work, if they ask for it, we will grant that power, because we want those who are guilty to be in front of the courts," Charest said.

Justice minister Jean-Marc Fournier denied accusations that the government is reversing its original plan.

He said inquiry commissioner France Charbonneau is expected to begin by hearing witnesses on a volunteer basis.

If she feels she's not getting the results she's looking for, the government will expand her powers.

Party criticism

Charest has been under significant fire from the opposition for his handling of the corruption issue.

This week, that dissatisfaction appeared to spread deeper into his own party when one Liberal party member spoke publicly about forcing a leadership review at the weekend convention.

The premier's speechwriter also recently quit over his dissatisfaction with the handling of the corruption issue.

The announcement Friday night about the scope of the commissioner’s powers seemed to please party members, however.

They gave Charest more than one standing ovation.