Alfonso Gagliano-The Italian Canadain defender

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Jun. 2, 2005. 08:24 PM

FROM CANADIAN PRESS

The lawyer asked whether Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe's riding received as much sponsorship money as Gagliano's adjacent Saint- Leonard district - a question that angered the ex-minister.

"Saint-Leonard has the right to the same services, the same programs as other Canadians," thundered Gagliano, referring to the fact Italian immigrants make up a large portion of the residents in his district.

Gagliano then dredged up his earlier arguments that criticisms aimed at him since his fall from grace have been racially motivated.

"We pay taxes," he told Lussier. "For months, you have insulted the entire Italian community and you're doing it again today."

Gagliano also denied knowledge of cash payments to the Liberals, refuting assertions by former party official Benoit Corbeil who said Gagliano oversaw an underground campaign nerve centre in the 2000 election.

"I issued directives to the contrary - never to accept cash, whether it be cheques to the Liberal party with no address for a receipt, or ticket sales with pressure or promises," said Gagliano, who served as Chrétien's Quebec lieutenant for several years.

"These were always my directives and I was always strict on this."

Gagliano was also shown documents indicating the daughter of one of his political organizers billed the Groupaction Marketing ad firm $50,000 for video work for TV spots featuring Liberal MPs.

Gagliano said he knew about the spots, but had no idea the video producer, Thalie Tremblay, was billing Groupaction.

Tremblay has said she began billing Brault after being told to do so by Gagliano's then-chief of staff. Gagliano said he had nothing to do with it, adding he didn't understand why his chief of staff would have participated in such a scheme.

The official, Pierre Tremblay, died last year before he could testify at any public hearing. He's not related to the video producer.