Ralliement de Saint-Léonard
Encyclopedia
The Ralliement de Saint-Léonard (RdSL) is a former political party in Saint-Leonard, Quebec
, Canada
. The RdSL existed prior to Saint-Leonard's amalgamation into Montreal
and dominated the city's political life in the mid-1980s.
of mayor Antonio di Ciocco
, who died in 1984. Party founder Raymond Renaud
won the city's mayoralty in a September 1984 by-election
, and the party held eight out of twelve council seats in 1985.
Reneaud was re-elected as Saint-Leonard's mayor in the 1986 municipal election, and the party increased its representation to ten council seats. Following the election, Renaud was quoted as saying, "The opposition? There is no opposition in Saint-Leonard."
led a rebellion in which he and seven other RdSL representatives resigned from the party to sit as independents. They accused Renaud of making decisions without consultation and were particularly opposed to a $1.5 million business tax surcharge that was meant to pay for a residential tax cut. Only two councillors, Basilio Giordano
and Pari Montanaro, remained with Renaud's administration.
The dissident councillors formed a municipal priority committee, which submitted a budget in 1989, and a "Saint-Leonard Citizens' Committee" that was intended to give citizens more control over political matters. From 1988 to 1990, the city faced political gridlock between the mayor's office and Zampino's group.
Zampino defeated Renaud for for the mayoralty in the 1990 municipal election, and the RdSL won only two council seats. The party effectively disappeared in March 1994, when the two remaining RdSL members joined Zampino's Parti Municipal
.
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The RdSL existed prior to Saint-Leonard's amalgamation into Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
and dominated the city's political life in the mid-1980s.
Rise to political dominance
The RdSL was formed as a successor to the Équipe du renouveau de la cité de Saint-LéonardÉquipe du renouveau de la cité de Saint-Léonard
The Équipe du renouveau de la cité de Saint-Léonard was a political party based in the suburban community of Saint-Leonard in Montreal, Quebec, Canada...
of mayor Antonio di Ciocco
Antonio di Ciocco
Antonio di Ciocco was a politician in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He served as mayor of the suburban community of Saint-Leonard from 1981 to 1984....
, who died in 1984. Party founder Raymond Renaud
Raymond Renaud
Raymond Renaud was a politician in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He was mayor of the suburban community of Saint-Leonard from 1984 to 1990, leading the municipal Ralliement de Saint-Léonard party.-Councillor:...
won the city's mayoralty in a September 1984 by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
, and the party held eight out of twelve council seats in 1985.
Reneaud was re-elected as Saint-Leonard's mayor in the 1986 municipal election, and the party increased its representation to ten council seats. Following the election, Renaud was quoted as saying, "The opposition? There is no opposition in Saint-Leonard."
Split and subsequent collapse
In 1988, councillor Frank ZampinoFrank Zampino
Frank Zampino is a Montreal politician and a chartered accountant. He served as the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the City of Montreal and the city's second-ranking official...
led a rebellion in which he and seven other RdSL representatives resigned from the party to sit as independents. They accused Renaud of making decisions without consultation and were particularly opposed to a $1.5 million business tax surcharge that was meant to pay for a residential tax cut. Only two councillors, Basilio Giordano
Basilio Giordano
Basilio Giordano is an Italian and Canadian politician and journalist. He was a councillor in the Montreal suburb of Saint-Leonard from 1982 to 1990 and has served in the Italian Senate since 2008, representing Italian voters in North and Central America as a member of Silvio Berlusconi's People...
and Pari Montanaro, remained with Renaud's administration.
The dissident councillors formed a municipal priority committee, which submitted a budget in 1989, and a "Saint-Leonard Citizens' Committee" that was intended to give citizens more control over political matters. From 1988 to 1990, the city faced political gridlock between the mayor's office and Zampino's group.
Zampino defeated Renaud for for the mayoralty in the 1990 municipal election, and the RdSL won only two council seats. The party effectively disappeared in March 1994, when the two remaining RdSL members joined Zampino's Parti Municipal
Parti Municipal (Saint-Léonard)
The Parti Municipal was a political party that existed from 1990 to 2001 in the suburban community of Saint-Leonard in Montreal, Quebec, Canada...
.