Cheque for $25K was contribution to legal fees, not gift, says Denis Coderre

Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre said he considers a $25,000 cheque he received from a friend, who is also a Liberal Party organizer, as a contribution, not a gift.

Coderre told CBC Montreal'sDaybreakhe received the cheque in 2012, while he was still a Liberal MP, from friend and businessman Jean Rizzuto.

Rizzuto is a Liberal organizer who worked for Coderre,and theyhave known each other for more than 30 years, Coderre said.

The money was put toward legal fees in a defamation lawsuit launched by Canadian hockey player Shane Doan, launched after Coderre accused Doan of making an ethnicslur against francophones.

• NHL's Doan, MP Coderre settle out of court

Coderresaid he never officially declared having received the cheque to the federal conflict of interestand ethics commissioner.

"I can't redo the past, but for me it wasn't a gift; it was someone who wanted to contribute because he supportedmy cause," he told Radio-Canada's Gravel le matin.

Coderresaid in hindsight, perhaps he should have declared the cheque, but he didn't because, since it was a private matter that didn't involve public funds, he didn't think he had to.

The 2009conflict of interest code for MPs that wasin effect whenCoderre received the money would seem to suggest the former MP should have declared it.

A benefit is defined as "an amount of money if there is no obligation to repay it," and any gifts or benefits over $500 are to be declared within 60 days, along with a description of the circumstances under which they were given.

The office of Ottawa's Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner said at this point it can't determine whether Coderre should have declared the sum because itdoesn't have enough information, and it hasno power to investigate since he is no longer an MP.

Infection clouded memory, Coderre contends

According to the Journal deMontral, when asked about the cheque three weeks ago,Coderredenied having ever received it.

He now says the reporters called him while he was dealing with a prostate infectionand that he was medicated and doesn't remember what he told them when they called.

Quebec's anti-corruption unit (UPAC) said in a statementthat it is not investigating but has handed information over to theRCMP. TheRCMPwould not comment.

Coderre said he hasn't been contacted by police.

Suit and countersuit

Coderre's legal problems date back to the 2006 federal election,when the then-MPdemanded Doan be barred from Canada's team for the Turin Winter Olympics, accusing the Phoenix Coyotes forward of trash-talking a francophone official at a game in Montreal on Dec. 13, 2005.

• Shane Doan takes legal action against Liberal MP

The league cleared Doan of wrongdoing, and Doan sued Coderre for $250,000. Coderre countersued.

They reached an out-of-court settlement in 2010.

Coderrereceived the cheque two years later, in 2012. He said two weeks after he deposited the cheque, he wrote his lawyers' firma cheque for the same amount.

Coderre's reaction 'an insult,' opposition says

Valrie Plante, leader of the official opposition at city hall, said Coderre'sexcuses were weak, especially for an elected official.

Plante also quipped that memory loss isn't a symptom of a prostate infection.

She said Coderre is downplaying a serious situation.

"I find it's an insult, even, to Montrealers who are worried about questions about possible corruption and, with everything that's happened, trying to minimize this, I find it's a lack of respect toward the population," she said.

Plante said the situation amounts to an apparent conflict of interest, and if the mayor has nothing to hide, he should provide the bill from his lawyers, the settlement reached with Doanand a copy of the cheque.

She pointed out it's unclear why the case was settled in 2010, but the cheque was only sent two years later.

No conflict,Rizzutosays

Coderresaidhe never awarded any contracts toRizzutoat the federal level nor at the municipal level.

Rizzutohas declined interviews, however, a spokesperson for the Laval businessman said the cheque is the only one he ever gave toCoderre, and it was to defend the French language a cause close to hisheart andthat of his brother, the late SenatorPietroRizzuto.

Through his spokesperson, he denied any suggestion that he could have putCoderrein a conflict of interest, telling Radio-Canada that he has made many donations to the federal Liberals over the years, however, as a resident of Laval,he has never donated toCoderre'smunicipal party.

Hesaid he hasno contracts with the City of Montreal, although he does have a 20-year commercial contract with Montreal's public transit agency, the STM, that dates back to 2004.