Montreal Mayor Michael Applebaum flatly denied a report this afternoon that he is under investigation by the Charbonneau Commission.

A report in Le Devoir suggests he's been involved with what the paper calls 'questionable' real-estate dealing while serving as Cote des Neiges-NDG borough mayor.

The report wouldn't give specifics, other that to suggest that it may have had something to do with making changes to zoning laws to allow some private real-estate projects to go ahead.

It went on to say that the Commission had been investigating Applebaum for months.

Applebaum called the story 'false'.

After announcing the creation of a new police anti-corruption squad at city hall this morning, the mayor made reference to a meeting he had planned with Charbonneau Commission officials.

Neither he nor those officials had anything to say about the meeting, though this morning, Applebaum said he would cooperate fully with them.