Michael Applebaum

Michael Applebaum, born on February 10, 1963, is a former Canadian politician and businessperson who made headlines during his tenure as interim mayor of Montreal. Appointed by the city council on November 16, 2012, he held the position until his resignation on June 18, 2013, following serious legal troubles.

His political career began when he was elected city councillor for Notre-Dame-de-Grâce on November 6, 1994, as a member of the now-defunct Parti des Montréalais. In 2001, he co-founded the Union Montréal party and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming the borough mayor of Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce from January 1, 2002, to November 21, 2012, and chair of the city's executive committee in 2011.

However, Applebaum's career took a dark turn when he was arrested on June 17, 2013, facing fourteen charges, including fraud and corruption in municipal affairs. The following day, he resigned from his position. On January 26, 2017, he was found guilty of eight charges related to extorting sixty thousand dollars in bribes from real estate developers during his time as borough mayor.

After serving a year in prison and two years on probation, Applebaum was granted parole on June 6, 2017, just two months after beginning his sentence. His story serves as a cautionary tale about the complexities and challenges of political life in Canada.