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Oct28,1997, WESTMOUNTHOMEPAGE

To:DavidNicholson

HereisaletterthatIwrotetoTheGazettethedayafterthemeetingatCity Hall.

EditorTheGazette
250St.AntoineStreetWest
Montreal,Quebec
H2Y3R7

DearSir;

YourreporterHazelPorterwrites"Westmountcouncilyieldstocrowdatmeeting."(May6,1997)WasshereallyattheWestmountCityCouncilmeetinglastnight?IwasthereandIwatchedthemayor,PeterTrentandhiscouncilstanduptoalargeandvociferouscrowdandnotbudgeaninchontheirconvictionsthatpartitioniswrong.Peoplemightnotalwaysagreewiththeirelectedleaders,butatleastMayorTrentandhiscouncilshowedthattheyareleaders.NobodyyieldedasMs.Porterstates.Peopletalkedandpeoplelistened.TheresultwasthepassingofaunityresolutionthatcapturesthespiritofWestmounters'overwhelmingsupportoffederalismanddoesnotespousepartition.

Yourstruly,

BrianPuddington
370LansdowneAvenue
Westmount,Quebec




May6,1997

Unitymotionpasses

Westmountcityandmayorwins

editedfromHazelPorter,TheGazette

WestmountmunicipalcouncilcavedintotheWestmountUnityCommittee'sdemandslastnightandadoptedaresolutioncallingforprovincialandfederalelectedofficialstostartdefendingtheirrightstoremainCanadian.

Theresolution,presentedbymunicipalcouncillorJimWright,wasmore inkeepingwithMayorPeterTrent'sviewsontheissue.Whilethemayor hasoftensaidunityresolutionspersearepartitionistanditisnotthe roleofcounciltoprotecttheconstitution,heyieldedtothecrowdof about125peoplewhocrammedintothecouncilchambers.

Pandemoniumbrokeoutwhenthecouncillorvotedunanimouslytopass theunityresolution.TheaudiencecheeredandPeterMargo,headofthe WestmountUnityCommittee,whichsponsoredtheoriginalresolution,congratulatedthemayor.

Themeetingwasoftenacrimonious,andearlyintheeveningTrentwas loudlybooedwhenhetoldthecrowd:"Wewillbediscussingwhatwe feelwecando."

AllenNutik,amemberoftheunitycommittee,retorted:"Passa simpleresolutionorwewilldemandyourresignation."

Trentwaschallengedrepeatedlytoacceptthewillofthepeopleand adoptapro-unityresolution.

MembersoftheWestmountUnityCommitteeremindedthemayorthat650 peopleattendedaunityrallyThursdayatWestmountHighSchool,andthe suburb'sresidentshavevoted95percentinfavoroffederalismintwo provincialreferendums.

ResidentJohnAntony,sayinghewasspeakingonbehalfofyoungerWestmounters, saidtheywantedtoknowwhatthecouncilwaspreparedtodoforthem.

Trentreplied:"Wedon'tliketoseeouryouthleave.Weneedto tellthemthat.Thequestionishowtodoit."

TheaudiencecheeredloudlywhenWestmountresidentRichardBaylisreferred tothewarmemorialoppositetheentrancetocityhallandsaid:"These areourCanadianideals.Dowelackthecouragetosaywhatwewanttobe inourhomesandourtown?"

TheWestmountunityresolutionreads,inpart:"Whereasthemandate ofaCanadianmunicipalityclearlydoesnotencompassconstitutionalor issuesofnationalboundaries,beitresolvedthatthecouncilofthecity ofWestmountcallsuponthegovernmentsofQuebecandCanadatotakeall necessarymeasurestopromoteandprotectthelegal,constitutionaland democraticrightsofallcitizensresidinginthecityofWestmountand theprovinceofQuebec."

Thefinalstatement"callsuponourelectedprovincialandfederal representatives,JacquesChagnonandLucienneRobillard,andallthecandidatesinthepresentfederalelectioncampaigntoactivelyandopenlysupport thewishesofthecitizensofWestmountassetoutbythisresolution."

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