2024-04-03 05:27:34
I only know two things about Angelo Iacono: he has been the federal Liberal MP for Alfred-Pellan, east of Laval, since 2015, and he is a big, big Formula 1 fan.
Published at 1:27 a.m. Updated at 6:00 a.m.
I had never heard of Mr. Iacono until a reader from Laval wrote to tell me about his MP. He was not happy to find that Angelo Iacono had spent “MY tax money” on a rather unusual advertisement in a local weekly.
This reader sent me the two-page ad purchased by Congressman Iacono published in the March 18 issue of Courier Laval…
Before going any further, I would like to point out: it is not unusual for an MP to buy advertising space in a local newspaper. They have a budget for that. The principle of an MP buying advertising is not in itself particularly problematic.
The problem here is that the ad which occupies the two central pages of the Courier Laval does not promote the actions of the MP, she does not highlight the work of organizations in her constituency, she does not announce an open house at her office, no…
The two pages purchased by Angelo Iacono promote the calendar for the 2024 Formula 1 season.
You read correctly.
I thought it was a hoax when I received the photo of the two pages of the Courier Laval : the dates of the 24 races of the current F1 season are listed there, with the colors of the host country in the outline of the circuit. On the margins: the names of the ten teams, with those of the drivers.
At the top, overlooking the F1 calendar, we see a drawing – very similar – of MP Iacono in an F1 driver’s outfit, with the words THE 2024 FORMULA 1 SEASON presented by Angelo Iacono : the name of the local MP is on a red F1 car, he who is a big Ferrari fan.
PHOTO DAVID BOILY, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Angelo Iacono in January 2019
At the bottom of the ad, on the left, we find the contact details of the federal deputy for Alfred-Pellan, his first name written by hand and his surname, IACONO, with two racing tank tires in place of the O’s.
In short, I have nothing against MPs who announce themselves in the local media…
But I find that an industry, F1, which has earned revenues of US 3.2 billion in 2023, does not need free advertising in the Courier Laval.
I wrote to Deputy Iacono to ask for an interview and he called me back very quickly. His explanation: “I wanted to test this avenue to enter my constituents,” the MP began by telling me. It’s a subject that allows us to open the channels of communication with them… It’s easier for ordinary people to approach me to talk to me about F1 or gardening than about politics…”
I did not need to express my discomfort with this expenditure of public funds of $2,000 which has nothing to do with his work as a deputy, Mr. Iacono beat me to it:
“When I received your email,” he told me, “I said to myself that this wasn’t the idea of the century…
— How much does it cost, two pages in the Courier LavalMonsieur Iacono?
– 2000 $. »
It’s not the scandal ArriveCANit’s not the sponsorship scandal, it’s not a scandal, we’re not going to trigger a commission chaired by a judge to get to the bottom of things…
If this isn’t a scandal, Mr. Columnist, what is it?
You ask me a good question, I’m looking for the word…
A costly nonsense?
I also see that in Ottawa, we still fly 30,000 feet above ground level. This is not the first time that I have said it: there is a very disconnected side of reality in Ottawa, whether we are talking about the political class or the civil servants…
And you have to be disconnected in a timely manner to spend $2,000 of parliamentary funds to promote F1, which has no connection with the Alfred-Pellan constituency, except that we find there, as in the 338 constituencies in the country, chariot racing enthusiasts.
Have I said something expensively stupid?
I correct: one indecent stupidity. It’s the indecency that stinks to my face, more than the cost.
Mr. Iacono defended himself weakly, he repeated to me that this $2000 ad was “not the idea of the century”, but that he was a “hands-on guy” passionate about “exchange” , the MP therefore saw the publication of this advertisement as another opportunity to “get closer to the ground”…
And he had these words, as if it were proof of anything: “Some older people recently told me about the Australian Grand Prix…”
Moral of the story of vroom-vroom ads paid for with your taxes?
I see two…
One, there is a lot, a lot of money in Ottawa, for an MP to have $2,000 to spend on an ad that is as indecent as it is useless. But hey, we don’t make a 50 billion deficit by managing it tight1.
Two, in politics, what politicians describe as “the field” has a very, very broad back.
LAWYERS – His name is Karim Renno and he is one of the lawyers of Montreal billionaire Robert Miller, accused of having used his cash to build up a harem of vulnerable teenage girls for years.
The other day, Vincent Larouche reported2 that Mr. Renno had handed over $50,000 cash to a woman saying she was a victim of Robert Miller as a teenager. She also had to sign a document where she agreed not to discuss the amount received and to waive any recourse against Miller (she refused).
My question is not legal, it concerns sleep cycles…
Are you sleeping well, Mr. Renno?
1. Read the analysis “The size of the deficit, the unpleasant surprise of the Freeland budget” 2. Read the text “An envelope of money torpedoes an 8 million lawsuit”
1712143015
#taxes #buzzing