Montreal mayor fuming over media report on corruption probe

Montreal Mayor Grald Tremblaylashed out at La Presse newspaperTuesday after the French-language daily published a report linking two city councillorsto corruption in the construction industry.

La Presse reported provincial police are investigating allegations of extortion and Mafia meddlingin a $10.6-million contract to fix the roof at Montreals city hall.

At a press conference Tuesday morning, Tremblay called the article irresponsible. "They're [undermining] the credibility of my administration it's all insinuations, allegations, never proving anything."

Lawyers fortwocouncillorssent a letter to the publisher of La Presse lateTuesday afternoon.

In it, the councillors deny any involvement in the alleged incidents and demand the newspaper publish their letter in full. The councillors also say they are willing to meet with investigators at any time.

The article quoted contractor and business owner Paul Sauv, who said a Mafia membertold him he would have to pay two people in the municipal government $40,000 to keep working on the roof at city hall. Sauv told La Pressehe did not make the payment.

No names given

La Presse didnt name the people, but it stated Quebec provincial police have opened an investigation.

The mayor responded he was the one who contacted police about possible corruption when itwas brought to his attention in mid-March. "Theres a problem in Montreal, theres a problem in Quebec theres corruption in the construction industry. It is a fact," said Tremblay.

The mayor said the report only hurts his counciland the investigation. When La Presse reporter Michel Ouimet tried to ask him a question, the mayor refused to take it and quickly moved on to the next reporter.

Andr Nol, one of the La Presse journalists who wrote the article, says a police investigation is news."I will not hide this news for other purposes. My job is to find news and publish the news, and I do not have any agenda."

Nol added it was deplorable that the mayor refused to answer his colleague's question.

After the mayors press conference, Quebec Premier Jean Charest confirmed his government would not intervene. He said the situation is under investigation byprovincial policeandit's important to preserve the integrity of the probe.

Charest also said the municipal affairs minister was in talks with municipal officials to create a new code of ethics forpoliticians.