Fire destroys Montreal Liberal candidate's headquarters
Last Updated: Tuesday, November 18, 2008 | 11:09 AM ET
CBC News
An overnight fire that destroyed a Montreal Liberal candidate's campaign offices and left a dozen people homeless may be drug-related, officials said.
The fire broke out in Martin Cossette's campaign offices in Montreal's Ahuntsic borough early Tuesday morning, forcing about a dozen people from their homes.
The building, at the corner of Olympia Street and Henri-Bourassa Boulevard East, has a reputation as an occasional drug den, the superintendent said.
People often smoke drugs in the building's basement, he told CBC's French-language service.
Cossette wasn't aware of the seedier side of his campaign headquarters location, he said Tuesday morning.
"I was not aware of anything like that," he told reporters who congregated in front of the building. "I'll let the firefighters make their inquiries, and I'm just going to wait for their conclusions, and see what they say."
The fire won't sidetrack his campaign too much, Cossette said.
"Of course, we have to put in place some Plan B here, to continue the campaign. So, yes, we're going to look for a new office, and get set up again. But in the meantime, my job is to continue meeting people."
The 33-year-old lawyer is running for the provincial Liberals in the Crémazie riding, currently represented by PQ member Lisette Lapointe.
Lapointe, who is the wife of former PQ premier Jacques Parizeau, won the riding in 2007 by fewer than 200 votes.
