Alfonso Gagliano
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The Honourable Alfonso Gagliano, PC, (born January 25, 1942) is a Canadian lawyer and Liberal Party politician.
Born in Siculiana, Italy, his political career began in 1977 when he ran for a seat on the Montreal school board. In 1984, he ran for Parliament defeating a popular Progressive Conservative candidate. From 1997 to 2002 he served in various cabinet posts including labour minister, deputy House leader and the minister responsible for Communication Canada, Canada Post, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the Royal Canadian Mint and Canada Lands Company Ltd. His most controversial positions were as minister of Public Works and Government Services and as political minister for Quebec.
He formerly held the title and position of His Excellency the Ambassador of Canada to The Kingdom of Denmark.
He was dismissed from his position as ambassador on February 10, 2004 by Prime Minister Paul Martin amidst widespread speculation that during his time as public works minister he was actively involved in the sponsorship scandal.
On May 27, 2004 Gagliano filed a more than $4.5-million lawsuit against Prime Minister Martin and the government. The suit accuses them of deliberately attacking Gagliano's reputation and alleges that he was illegally and unjustly fired. He is asking for compensation for wrongful dismissal, damage to his reputation and lost revenue.
On November 17, 2004 an article in the New York Daily News alleged that Gagliano was associated with the Bonanno organized crime family. In the article, former capo Frank Lino, now an informer for the FBI, is quoted as saying Gagliano was introduced to him during a meeting with other mob members in Montreal. Gagliano has strongly denied the allegations. It is not the first time Gagliano's name has been linked to organized crime. In 1978, after a gangland slaying in Montreal La Presse reported that Gagliano was the bookkeeper for Agostino Cuntrera, cousin of cocaine baron Alfonso Caruana. Cuntrera was subsequently convicted of murder. [1] (http://www.nicaso.com/pages/doc_page71.html)
| Preceded by: Electoral District Created | Member of Parliament for Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel 1984-2002 | Succeeded by: Massimo Pacetti |