Rassemblement des citoyens et citoyennes de Saint-Léonard
Encyclopedia
The Rassemblement des citoyens et citoyennes de Saint-Léonard (RCSL) was a short-lived municipal political party in the suburban community of Saint-Leonard in Montreal
, Quebec
, Canada
. The party was created in June 1985 by Rosario Nobile, a thirty-five-year-old lawyer who had previously run for council in 1982
as a candidate of the Union municipale de Saint-Léonard
(UMSL).
Saint-Leonard was governed by Raymond Renaud
's Ralliement de Saint-Léonard
in the mid-1980s, and three other opposition parties were already operating in the city when the RCSL was founded. Nobile initially said that he was open to merging his group with the other parties, but he later changed his position, saying, "If they're honorable, they should come with me, because they have nobody." Domenico Moschella
, the leader of the rival Action civique de Saint-Léonard
, "This guy thinks he's God's gift to humanity [...] If anything, he should join us - not us join him." This exchange notwithstanding, Nobile's party won the support of UMSL leader Rosario Ortona, who dissolved his party to join the new organization.
Nobile was the RCSL's mayoral candidate in the 1986 Saint-Leonard municipal election
, and the party fielded a full slate of candidates for the city's twelve council districts. Nobile described his party as a grassroots organization, likening it to Jean Doré
's Montreal Citizens' Movement
in the city of Montreal; of the RCSL's candidates, only Ortona had prior experience as an elected official. Almost all of the party's candidates were Italian Canadians, and Nobile said that he would both enhance French- and English-language services and encourage the hiring of city employees who were fluent in Italian.
Shortly before election day, Nobile predicted the RCSL would win every seat on council. In the event, he finished fourth the mayoral contest and the party failed to win any seats. It seems to have disappeared shortly after the election.
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The party was created in June 1985 by Rosario Nobile, a thirty-five-year-old lawyer who had previously run for council in 1982
Montreal municipal election, 1982
The 1982 Montreal municipal election took place on November 14, 1982, to elect a mayor and city councillors in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Longtime mayor Jean Drapeau was re-elected for what turned out to be his final term in office, defeating challenger Jean Doré.Elections were also held in...
as a candidate of the Union municipale de Saint-Léonard
Union municipale de Saint-Léonard
The Union municipale de Saint-Léonard was a municipal political party in the suburban community of Saint-Leonard in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, during the early to mid-1980s....
(UMSL).
Saint-Leonard was governed by Raymond Renaud
Raymond Renaud
Raymond Renaud was a politician in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He was mayor of the suburban community of Saint-Leonard from 1984 to 1990, leading the municipal Ralliement de Saint-Léonard party.-Councillor:...
's Ralliement de Saint-Léonard
Ralliement de Saint-Léonard
The Ralliement de Saint-Léonard is a former political party in Saint-Leonard, Quebec, Canada. The RdSL existed prior to Saint-Leonard's amalgamation into Montreal and dominated the city's political life in the mid-1980s.-Rise to political dominance:...
in the mid-1980s, and three other opposition parties were already operating in the city when the RCSL was founded. Nobile initially said that he was open to merging his group with the other parties, but he later changed his position, saying, "If they're honorable, they should come with me, because they have nobody." Domenico Moschella
Domenico Moschella
Domenico Moschella, also known as Dominic Moschella, is an entrepreneur and politician in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He was a city councillor in the suburban community of Saint-Leonard from 1982 to 1986 and again from 1990 to 2001 and has been a school commissioner with the Commission scolaire de la...
, the leader of the rival Action civique de Saint-Léonard
Action civique de Saint-Léonard
Action civique de Saint-Léonard was a municipal political party that existed from 1984 to 1986 in the suburban community of Saint-Leonard in Montreal, Quebec, Canada...
, "This guy thinks he's God's gift to humanity [...] If anything, he should join us - not us join him." This exchange notwithstanding, Nobile's party won the support of UMSL leader Rosario Ortona, who dissolved his party to join the new organization.
Nobile was the RCSL's mayoral candidate in the 1986 Saint-Leonard municipal election
Montreal municipal election, 1986
The 1986 Montreal municipal election took place on November 9, 1978, to elect a mayor and city councillors in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Longtime mayor Jean Drapeau did not seek re-election, and Jean Doré from the opposition Montreal Citizens' Movement was elected to the position by a significant...
, and the party fielded a full slate of candidates for the city's twelve council districts. Nobile described his party as a grassroots organization, likening it to Jean Doré
Jean Doré
Jean Doré is a Canadian politician and former mayor of the City of Montreal, Quebec.-Background:Jean Doré studied law at the Université de Montréal, where he was president of the student union from 1967 to 1968. He received a Master's Degree of Political Science from McGill University...
's Montreal Citizens' Movement
Montreal Citizens' Movement
The Montreal Citizens' Movement was a municipal political party in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It existed from 1973 to 2001.-Origins:...
in the city of Montreal; of the RCSL's candidates, only Ortona had prior experience as an elected official. Almost all of the party's candidates were Italian Canadians, and Nobile said that he would both enhance French- and English-language services and encourage the hiring of city employees who were fluent in Italian.
Shortly before election day, Nobile predicted the RCSL would win every seat on council. In the event, he finished fourth the mayoral contest and the party failed to win any seats. It seems to have disappeared shortly after the election.