Lawrence Bergman shows fire in the belly as he prepares for election

With the municipal
elections in Quebec just a few weeks, can we really stomach a provincial vote
on December 9? Well it is certainly looking like Premier Pauline Marois will
pull the trigger on one for that date, with the hope that she has winning
conditions on her side.

For the voters in the
riding of D’Arcy McGee, which emcompasses Côte Saint-Luc, Hampstead and part of
NDG, it is comforting to know that long-time MNA Lawrence Bergman will be back as
a candidate whenever Marois sends us back to the polls. There was cautious
optimism at his nomination meeting at the Adath Israel Congregation on October
16 that the Liberals might be returned to power. Bergman sounded confident and
so did two of his colleagues – MNAs and former cabinet ministers Pierre Arcand
and Jean-Marc Fournier. John Parisella, the architect behind past provincial
Liberal success stories, was a keynote speaker. He focused his talk on key
Liberal values.

It is clear that with
their divisive Charter of Values, the PQ wants to create a rift in the province.
They have used this clearly xenophobic tactic to draw attention away from their
poor economic performance, with an attempt to woo voters who agree that a ban
on religious symbols is a good idea.  The proposed charter would ban public servants from
wearing kippahs, hijabs, or larger-than-average crosses.

I joined members of the Côte Saint-Luc city council Glenn J.  Nashen, Sam Goldbloom, Ruth Kovac, Mitchell
Brownstein, Dida Berku, Steven Erdelyi and Allan J. Levine at the event.

Councillors Goldbloom, myself, Berku, Nashen and Levine with Bergman.

Mayor Anthony Housefather was away on business, but he did send this
message of support: “I am so sorry that work obligations have not allowed me to be at your
nomination meeting tonight, but I want to express my strong support for your
candidacy and my profound appreciation for your work as an MNA.  We have
worked together since I was first elected a councillor and you were first
elected an MNA 19 years ago.  Throughout that entire period you have been
a friend and a mentor and someone who has taught me so much about what politics
should truly be about which is doing good things for the people you represent
and society as a whole.  As mayor of Côte Saint-Luc I can only say that
you have been there at every step of the way to support our municipality and
its 34,000 residents.  Whether it was securing funding for the
construction of our fabulous new Aquatic and Community Centre, assisting us in
getting legislation enacted to protect our exemplary EMS first responder
service, helping us work on safety in our rail yards or lobbying for the
Cavendish extension,  you have always
been there for us.  In the last year since the PQ was elected you have
been at the forefront assisting us in opposing the mean spirited Bill 14 and
the horrendous Charter of Quebec Values, both of which attacked our rights and
freedoms.  I am very proud to call you my MNA and D’Arcy McGee is
extremely lucky to have you represent us in the National Assembly. I wish you
the best of success and will be there every step of the way to support you and
the Liberal Party in the next Quebec election.”

Hampstead Councillors Bonnie Feigenbaum (candidate for mayor), Michael Goldwax and Leon
Elfassy were on hand. So was Russell Copeman, a former Liberal MNA and now a candidate
for borough mayor in NDG-Côte des Neiges and the man who currently holds that
title, Darlington District Councillor Lionel Perez. District 2 resident Martin
Bogante, who presided over the local riding association for 18 years, was
clearly a relaxed observer. New Police Station 9 Commander Marc Cournoyer made
an appearance as did Senator Leo Kolber. Mark Bergman, with wife Sara and
adorable seven year old daughter Mollie, was on hand. The MNA’s son, best known
as the brand director and drive home show host on Virgin Radio, raced home from
the end of shift to salute his dad.

Mark Bergman, wife Sara and daughter Mollie.

Bergman had very warm words for the woman in his life, Viviane
Konigsberg. Bergman’s wife Monica passed away from cancer over a decade ago. He
remained single for many years. Viviane is with him at all public events. He
called her “my deep love of my life…my companion.”

Fournier ripped into the PQ’s record. “They were supposed to have a zero
deficit and instead it is a $2 billion deficit,” he said. “Nobody is happy that
the economy is headed in the wrong direction. If they call us for an election,
we are going to have to define the kind of society we want. Being united is the
only way our society will be better.”

On the
eve of his 73^rd birthday, Bergman showed that he still has plenty of
fire in his belly. The de facto “Minister of Jewish Affairs” stated to much
applause, “for the sake of all of Quebec we need a change in government.” He
went on to accuse the PQ of wanting to institute state sponsored
discrimination.

Added
Bergman: “How many times have I said that all Quebecers, those born here and
those who decided to come to our shores, are equal no matter what the colour of
our skin, their origin and the society that they come from? We are all equals
as Quebecers and Canadians. Unfortunately the present government wants to break
with that premise.”

 Bravo Mr. Bergman!

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