National Post (National Edition)
Grits block Montreal borough mayor
MONTREAL • The federal Liberals are putting the kibosh on a bid by a Montreal borough mayor to seek the party nomination in a byelection.
Alan DeSousa is hoping to eventually represent the Liberals in the April 3 vote in the riding of Saint-Laurent, which is vacant because of Stephane Dion’s recent departure from politics.
DeSousa, who has been mayor of the borough of Saint-Laurent for more than 15 years, says a party committee sent him a letter dated this past Sunday to tell him he was not eligible.
“I intend to do everything in my power to make sure my name is on the nomination papers,” he said.
DeSousa argues it is up to the residents in the Liberal stronghold of Saint-Laurent to choose who they want as their candidate. He said the letter he received from the party gave no explicit reasons for the omission.
DeSousa was also asked in the interview about a recent TV report in which a citizen accused him of using the borough’s email account to solicit support.
He said he did not have access to the account and that he simply used the bank of contacts he has built up over the years.
If DeSousa ends up in the race, his opponents will include former Quebec Liberal cabinet minister Yolande James and Marwah Rizqy, a tax law professor. They have received the go-ahead to run.