AQ boss wants official challenge

Alliance Quebec president Brent Tyler is calling on unofficial challenger Giuliano D’Andrea to declare his candidacy so the two can start locking horns for the upcoming leadership race. “It’d be nice to have a debate on the positions,” says Tyler. “I think I’d prevail in an encounter of ideas, that’s my selfish interest, but I think it’d bring interest into the organization and increase membership.”

Sparks would likely fly in such an encounter as the two have been known to hold diametrically opposed visions on the role of English in Quebec. “I think his positions are fairly well known. Search the Web and you’ll see that he’s for the abolition of the English school system and for Quebec citizenship,” says Tyler.

“I’ve never stood for the abolition of the English school system, and Tyler has no concept or idea of what he’s talking about on my views on citizenship either,” says D’Andrea, who, in turn, accuses Tyler and the AQ chiefs of standing by as English schools were being shut down. “I think Tyler should be concerned about the sad record AQ has had in the last year. They got $630,000 of government money and what do they have to show for it? Alliance Quebec has become an extension of Tyler’s legal practice, that’s all we see,” says D’Andrea. Delegate selection starts April 11 and leadership candidates have until the end of April to declare. :

—Kristian Gravenor