Recycling rift

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by GEORGE MADDUX

Philanthropist Murray Levine's latest campaign to do good has led--it might come as no surprise--to controversy. Levine recently collected 2,000 corrugated-plastic campaign signs used by candidates in the recent federal election for recycling purposes. According to Levine, after The Gazette erroneously reported that a warehouse where the signs are stored belongs to Levine, his partner--whose family actually owns the space--became angry and severed relations. Levine now says he plans to sue his ex-partner, with whom he had various business ventures, for loss of livelihood.

Levine has previously made waves by attacking the Quebec establishment--La Presse in particular--for doing little to encourage charity. His current kerfuffles include a dispute with the municipality of Côte-St-Luc, which he says he plans to sue for disposing of breast cancer awareness ribbons that he planned to recycle. Levine says that he's also suing the organizers of the Tour de l'Ile who, he claims, responded in a libellous fashion to his request that participants be allowed to donate the money they raise to any charity of their choice.

"People find my methods distasteful," says Levine. "I try to shame them when they're not willing to help a good cause. I use underhanded methods in order to accomplish good things. When I use sugar or honey they don't work."

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