The newest city land scandal explained, sorta.

The wind is blowing much warmer for Benoit Labonte, Opposition Leader and presumptive Mayoral Candidate. When he quit the Executive Committee to get into opposition last year - mainly because Mayor Tremblay wanted to take over responsibility of Labonte's downtown Ville Marie borough - Labonte spent time in obscurity, known best for his incredible likeness to Fred Flintstone, the name derisively pinned on him by his former Tremblay party mates. But the recent scandal involving much-rewarded Tremblay loyalist Martial Fillion keeps blowing up in Labonte's favour. Fillion, who enjoys an occasional social drink, had previously worked for Tremblay in provincial politics and then became Mayor Tremblay's chief of staff in Montreal.
   When Tremblay was critized for having 4 times the number of political aides than his predecessor Pierre Bourque, Fillion axed 10 of 'em, leaving 55 on the p-roll. Fillion was then switched over to the city's public housing unit, the SHDM. It was merged with another bureaucratic structure, against provincial rules.
   Enter developer Frank Catania, who has alleged ties to the Montreal Rizzuto Mafia clan (see previous posts for another link between Tremblay's party and the same gang of miscreants). It's known that the developer Catania was nailed for tax evasion in 2002, having to fork out over $100,000 in payments to the feds. Catania is a longtime Tremblay supporter and organized a posh fundraiser for the mayor. Catania scored a piece of land in the east end for development. The land was evaluated at $25 million but after a series of events, a decontamination issue, a poorly written contract, etc, the city ended up getting less than zero for the turf. They ended up $100,000 in the hole for what should have been a lucrative transaction. Two members of the City Executive, Francine Senecal and Frank Zampino quit their posts after a meeting where much of this was organized. Senecal, an NDG city councillor, was given the top post at the Cegep du Vieux Montreal. Her hiring was rescinded by the school after the whispers started flying. You see Senecal is married to the Tremblay's aide Fillion, who is currently suspended and, it seems, not the only scapegoat to get the blade for this whole mess.

So that's why Labonte's fortunes are thought to be on the rise lately.