Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion is trying to diffuse the controversy over his direct appointment of Joan Beatty as a candidate in a northern Saskatchewan riding.

"It's always difficult for me to decide to appoint someone," Dion said. "I need to have good reasons. And I had very good reasons in the case of Joan Beatty."

Two other people were interested in representing the Liberals in the upcoming Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River byelection, including organic farmer David Orchard and educator John Dorion. If the normal procedure had continued, there would have been a vote at a nomination meeting.

But last week, Dion short-circuited the process by nominating Beatty, a New Democrat MLA and a minister in former premier Lorne Calvert's cabinet.

The Liberals have been trying to get more female and aboriginal candidates running for them.

At a news conference in Ottawa Wednesday, Dion noted Beatty was the first First Nations person appointed to the provincial cabinet, adding she is well qualified and he expects people to get behind her.

Dion said he has been in touch with Orchard  and is still hoping to use his talents in another area.

But some of Orchard's supporters were outraged that Dion directly appointed a candidate.

The Saskatoon Star-Phoenix reported Wednesday that a group of disgruntled Liberals is planning to hold its own nomination meeting.

The byelection is set for March 17 and was made necessary by last year's resignation of Liberal Gary Merasty, who went to work for mining company Cameco.