2 city councillors fire back at La Presse over corruption allegations

Two city councillors defended themselves Tuesday after a story in La Presse earlier in the day linked them to alleged corruption in the construction industry.

Councillors Sammy Forcillo and Cosmo Maciocia sent a lawyer's letter to the newspaper on Tuesday afternoon, stating they had no knowledge of an alleged extortion.

The letter also said the La Presse article confirmed the reporter had no evidence proving the councillors' involvement in the incident. The newspaper article on Tuesday did not name Forcillo or Maciocia.

The councillors asked La Presse to publish their two-page letter in full, but Wednesday morning’s edition only quoted portions of the letter.    

In an interview with Radio-Canada on Tuesday, Mayor Gérald Tremblay defended the councillors, saying what's at issue is corruption in the construction industry. The mayor said he’s spent the past eight years cleaning up politics at city hall, and he's questioning the credibility of his councillors' accuser.

In an interview with CBC/Radio-Canada, contractor Paul Sauvé — who claims he was asked by a member of the mafia to pay $40,000 to Forcillo and Maciocia in order to secure a roofing contract at city hall — described how he hired a member of the Hells Angels to take control of his company for a period of time.

Tremblay said he questions Sauvé’s credibility, adding he thinks Sauvé "made a deal with the devil."

During question period in Quebec's national assembly on Wednesday, Premier Jean Charest re-confirmed that provincial police are investigating allegations that two city councillors took bribes in exchange for public works contracts. The premier said he would not interfere in the police investigation. 

Opposition Parti Quebecois Leader Pauline Marois responded by calling on the government to put an end to a cloud of suspicion hanging over the administration of Quebec's largest city.