Laval-Les Îles controversy persists

I am writing in response to letters that have recently appeared in Courrier Laval Weekly News, one written by Mr. Nick Furfaro (Jan.14, 2007), the other carrying the names of 11 members of the Board of Directors of the Laval-Les Îles federal Liberal Association, all of whom had supposedly consented to having their names identified. This second letter was published in your newspaper on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2007.

It is my sincere opinion that the contents of both letters are a reflection of the undemocratic way the association conducts its affairs, and I am convinced that Mr. Nick Furfaro is one of very few people who remains under the influence of the incumbent MP for Laval-Les Îles, Raymonde Folco.

Mr. Furfaro's recent public involvement in association and riding affairs comes as quite a surprise to me, since for the past few years I have rarely seen him working for the candidate and the party during election campaigns, except on election day when he accepted a paying job at the voting centre.

I am of the same opinion, as former riding association president Flavia Di Fazio (letter to Courrier Laval Weekly News – Jan. 28, 2007), that Mr. Furfaro remains faithful to the MP because he has been promised a job, if and when Mme Folco ever becomes a minister in a future Liberal cabinet. I express this opinion because I know that Mr. Furfaro has had fundamental differences with the MP on a number of issues, including same-sex marriage and abortion, but now seems to have put these differences aside.

I am also quite surprised that Mr. Furfaro would, as he did in a letter published in the Chomedey News (Dec. 14, 2006) state that I am being manipulated and that I should be thankful for having "been helped a lot by Mme Folco." He also stated in the letter that Mme Folco was surprised and hurt at my joining a splinter group and that the incident I referred to in my own letter to the Chomedey News (Nov. 30, 2006) simply involved information from Mme Folco that I should not expect future help from her.

That, to say the least, is an interesting interpretation of a situation which Mr. Furfaro did not witness. I know what took place, and I stand behind my statement that the MP treated me arrogantly and aggressively and without the respect owed a volunteer who had spent countless hours working for her, for the Laval-Les Îles Liberal family, and for the Liberal Party of Canada.

A few more points to ponder: If, in fact, the association has 500 members today, it is thanks to the efforts of all the various volunteers involved in the different camps during the leadership race. These new members were not recruited by Mr. Furfaro, they were signed up by me and countless others like me.

We must also go back to the nominating convention at which only 35 members of the 500 were present. This is a clear indication to me that the MP can no longer count on local support. Where were the other 465 members?

And lastly, despite having been elected three times, Raymonde Folco's roots are not in Laval. She lives in Westmount, and it is my opinion that her interest in the needs of the people of Laval is not that strong. In addition, why would Mr. Furfaro criticize Mr. Frank Mansi for expressing an interest, and a democratic one at that, in running in a riding in which he does not live. The fact is that Mr. Mansi did live in the riding for 40 years, long before Mme Folco ever showed up. And unlike her, he still lives very close to the riding boundaries, in Chomedey.

In conclusion, it is my view that the reason for divisiveness and dissension in Liberal ranks in Laval-Les Îles can be traced to the unacceptable way the MP treats some of her people and volunteers. In this I have had personal experience.

If what Mr. Furfaro says is true, then the riding association would be united and cohesive, which at the present time it is certainly not.

I too, like Mr. Furfaro, am confident that the voters and Liberal supporters of Laval-Les Îles have enough intelligence to draw their own conclusions.

It is time for the members of the association to make their wishes known and demand a democratic nomination. It is the only way to clear the air of all this controversy and negativity. And if Mme Folco wishes to run for the nomination, in an open election, we welcome her candidacy for the nomination because that is the democratic way.