Frank Zampino defends decision to speed up Faubourg-Contrecoeur land deal

Frank Zampino, the former number two man at Montreal city hall, currently on trial for fraud, conspiracy and breach of trust, defended his role Thursday in trying to accelerate a controversial land deal.

The prosecution alleges Zampino used his political influence while he was chair of the city's executive committee in 2007 to obtain a deep discount on the price of a piece of land the city was selling to Construction Frank Catania in exchange for political contributions.

The so-called Faubourg-Contrecoeur site in Montreal's east end was slated for a housing development with several social housing units.

On his third day of testifying in his own defence, Zampino reiterated that most of the day-to-day decisions governing the project were made by municipal bureaucrats.

• 'Never did I intervene': Frank Zampino testifies in his own defence at fraud trial

He did concede that he imposed project deadlines on the city's director general at the time, Claude Léger.

"Montreal is a big machine. It has been criticized for not moving on big projects. It is the role of the mayor, the head of the executive committee and other politicians to impose deadlines," Zampino testified.

He said the city was in a social housing crisis at the time, and the administration of then-mayor Gérald Tremblay had promised to address the crisis.

Zampino said it was important to do that in a reasonable amount of time.

"We're judged by what we promise and what we deliver.  If we promise a number of social housing units, there's a timer," Zampino testified.

He said there was nothing abnormal about him checking up on the project and imposing deadlines.

Zampino will resume his testimony in his own defence on Friday.