Fired AQ fundraiser fumes

While anglo-rights group Alliance Quebec was holding a press conference denouncing the firing of former Canada Post employee Alan Greer on Tuesday, a former AQ employee was outside busily picketing his own bizarre dismissal. Avriel Yachnin, a 33-year-old former AQ fundraiser working on a temporary contract, was fired January 24, despite working extra duties and a recent contract extension. The rest of his contract would not be honoured, he was told, and if he wanted the money owed him, he would have to sign an agreement not to sue and an expanded confidentiality agreement. He kicked up a fuss instead.

“It’s not a money issue,” he says. “I can accept being fired and I still think the AQ does good work. But can someone tell me why exactly I was fired?” He was told for incompetence, even though AQ bigwigs had just signed off on a campaign he was proud to have completed. He feels he was fired because he brought up some uncomfortable questions, including asking who exactly constitutes Montreal’s anglo community.

Although he received the money owed him on Tuesday, Yachnin is still considering small claims court for hours he put in but wasn’t paid for. He also says AQ prez Brent Tyler threatened to counter-sue, but isn’t worried. “Brent’s been to my house, he drank beer on my couch. He knows I’m not a rich guy,” Yachnin says. “What’s he going to sue me for, my Lego set?” :

—Patrick Lejtenyi