WESTMOUNT - The mayor of Westmount has left Quebec's Union of Municipalities as a protest against the organization's president.
Marc Gascon, the mayor of St. Jerome, head of the UMQ, is being investigated for allegedly benefitting from his relationships with several contractors.
The UMQ's executive committee says it has looked into the matter and determined Gascon did nothing wrong, although the Municipal Affairs ministry is still investigating the case.
Trent also objects to Laval mayor Gilles Vaillancourt holding a position on the UMQ's executive committee, and acting as caucus president for Montreal-area mayors.
This week Vaillancourt was accused of offering cash-stuffed envelopes to two politicians running for office, both of whom refused the offer.
Vaillancourt has denied ever attempting to make unlawful campaign donations.
Meanwhile The mayors of Terrebonne and Mascouche, Jean-Marc Robitaille and Richard Marcotte, have temporarily stepped down while allegations of their close ties with contractors are being investigated.
Trent says that he pondered the issue over the weekend and made his decision to leave the UMQ on Tuesday.
