Liberals choose ex-NHLer Enrico Ciccone to vie for West Island seat

Enrico Ciccone was formally introduced as the Quebec Liberal candidate in Montreal's West Island Marquette riding Thursday, withparty Leader PhilippeCouillardat his side.

The former journeyman hockey player, who was in the National Hockey League from 1993 to 2001, said theNHL was not easy.

The challenge of politics, he said, is similar, but "the rules are different."

"The citizens of Marquette now are my team."

The announcement came a day after Franois Ouimet, who has represented the riding for 24 years, publiclydenounced Couillardfor ousting him in an emotional news conference.

The riding encompasses Lachine, Dorval andL'le-Dorval.

Asked why he decided to enter politics,Cicconesaid, "I want to be sure the people around me are safe."

He said he had been approached by other parties to run, but chose the Liberals because of the party's values, namely individual rights, its social policies and approach to immigration, and its goals of equity, integrity, and focus on the future.

Debut overshadowed

But Ciccone'sofficial debut was overshadowed byquestions directed at Couillard about his treatment ofOuimetand opposition toCiccone'snomination by the riding association.

On Wednesday, Ouimet fought back tears as he told reporters that in May, with rumours swirling that he would be replaced,Couillard promised him that he would be the Liberal candidate in Marquette for the Oct. 1 election.

When told that voters in the riding were sayingCouillarddoes not keep his word, the Liberal Leader repliedthat he keeps all his promises.

"I know it was painful forFranois,"Couillardsaid ofOuimet'sreaction to his decision to drop him as the party's candidate.

"It was painful for me, too," he said.

Couillard said Ciccone is a new voice in politics and "a candidate of great value" who would rally the Liberal vote in the riding.

However, Radio-Canada has since reported thatCicconefirstapproached theCoalitionAvenirQubec and offered to run for them.

Cicconewanted the riding ofBlainville, located in the Laurentians, butLegaultofferedVaudreuilinstead.

The negotiations with theCAQwere not successful, soCicconewent to the Liberals with his political aspirations.

Residents react

Citizens in Marquette who spoke to CBCNews on Thursdayhad kind words for Ouimet, with some sayingthey had met him in his door-to-door campaigning. Others expresseduncertainty about the new Liberal candidate.

"He wouldn't get my vote," said Dorvalresident Nicola Belmonte.

"He's not a politician. He was an enforcer in hockey and that is where he should stay."

Martha Filion-Chanwas not aware of the controversy over the change of the Liberal candidate. "I'm more concerned with Mr. Couillard's cabinet," she said.

Former Lachine mayor William McCullock says he's disappointed with how Couillard handled the situation. He said Ouimet was a good MNA for the region.

"Franois Ouimet did not falter, he was good for us. And what's the replacement? Is he better? It's one of the unknowns. I don't like the unknown."

McCullock says with the rise of the Coalition AvenirQubec, this move could end up hurting Philippe Couillard and the Liberals.

Riding association members expected to resign

Meanwhile, Patrick Carroll, president of the Marquette riding association, denied a report that the executive has resigned.

He said they will stay on until Oct. 1, the end of Ouimet'smandate, then resign.

Carroll said he was "very shocked" at the decision to remove Ouimet as the candidate. "The premier gave his word," he told Radio-Canada.

In his speech,Cicconesaidhe knowsOuimetand his son, who he characterized as "a good hockey player."

"I hope I can bring to Marquette what he did for 24 years,"Cicconesaid.

With files from CBC`s Sudha Krishnan and Elias Abboud, and Radio-Canada's Pascal Robidas