Head of Montreal's executive committee resigns

Michael Applebaum has stepped down ashead of Montreal's executive commitee.

Applebaum says thathe isresigning over an internal working document that was suppressed by the committee.

"I have fought for these reports to be known, but the executive committee has chosen instead to suppress it to save them from embarassing questions," he said in a news conference on Friday.

The 2004 report allegedly showed thatMontreal was paying 30 to 40 per centmore on construction contracts comparedwith other nearby municipalities, according to Applebaum.

He said the report never crossed the mayor's desk.

After seeing the report, the executive committee chose to suppress it, he said. And it will not be made publicuntil after the public question period next Monday.

Applebaumsays he first saw the report onOct. 29 of this year, and that he can't stand behind the decision to hide it from the public.

He said he still believes in his 2013 budget and he isnot quitting out of frustration.

After allegations of city corruption surfaced during the Charbonneau corruption inquiry,Applebaum proposed a changeto the planned3.3 per cent tax hike.

He suggested to the executive committee that they abolish the augmentation of the special water tax and keep the general tax increase at 2.2 per cent.

Applebaum said lowering the proposed tax was the responsible thing to do, but other members of the executive committee did not agree.

After 18 years working in city politics, Applebaum will stay on as mayor ofthe Cte-des-NeigesNotre-Dame-de-Grce borough.