Former imam turned federal Liberal candidate in Montreal hopes to build bridges

OTTAWA — A former imam whose sermon at the funeral of six worshippers murdered at a Quebec City mosque attracted international attention will run for the federal Liberals in a Montreal riding.

Hassan Guillet won a contested nomination in Saint-Leonard-Saint-Michel, becoming the first Liberal candidate not to come from the influential Italian community since the 1988 inception of the east-end riding.

Guillet says he wants to represent everyone in the riding and not just its substantial North African community. He beat a local city councillor and a notary to secure the nomination.