By Jason Kirby
Parliament Hill’s new cat man only lasted one month.
Maurice Golka, who wanted to take over from the current keeper of Canada’s most famous cat colony, was forced this week to withdraw his offer to assume care of the 20 or so cats who call Parliament Hill their home.
“I’m backing out. René wanted a helper, not someone to take over. I’m a leader not a follower,” Golka said this week.
However, Glen Duncan, director general of the Parliamentary Precinct for Public Works Canada, says Golka had no choice after the government department granted René Chartrand, Cat Man for the past 12 years, a five-year licence of occupancy for one dollar. It gives Chartrand exclusive access to the area where the cats live.
Chartrand was relieved the dispute is over.
“Now, I’ve got some real papers. I’m the only one who can be there.”
Golka had signed an agreement with Chartrand in early January giving him control of the colony. However, it became a point of contention between the two men, leading the government and the RCMP to become involved.
Chartrand always maintained he did not know the paper he signed was a contract.
“(Golka) said if the police came over, he needed something to prove he could be there. That’s what I signed.”
The transition from one Cat Man to the next was in trouble right from the beginning.
Golka became interested in helping with the world-famous felines after watching a television show last fall featuring Chartrand.
“I went and saw the cat boxes,” said Golka, 54. “They weren’t well insulated. I approached René . . . and offered to help.”
The two men tore down the old cat boxes and built new two-storey houses with insulation and metal roofs.
Chartrand says he appreciated the work and asked Golka to keep helping with the cats. The eccentric 76-year-old has visited the Hill every day since the mid-1980s to feed and care for the cats.
He has said in the past that the cold weather and physical demands of the job were forcing him to look for an assistant.
“Some people say, if I get sick, who’s going to take over?” says Chartrand.
In earlier interviews, Golka indicated he wanted to make some changes to how the sanctuary was run. For example, he wanted to make it a bigger part of the community.
Early on, Golka angered Chartrand by changing the locks on the donation boxes. “I gave him all the (donation money since he came,” said Chartrand, his voice quivering. “The bastard doesn’t trust me.”
Golka indicated that he would have eventually taken down the donation boxes and encouraged people to simply donate food and supplies.
Golka also said he wanted to transform some of the tiny buildings into a scaled-down version of the Parliament Buildings complete with a Peace Tower.
Now retired, Golka worked in the Byward Market for 30 years as a delivery man.
The disagreement earlier led to several shouting matches between the two men.
“I’m the Cat Man. You’re only a spare,” Chartrand yelled at Golka while being interviewed and hitting a small sign that retells the history of the Cat Man and bearing Chartrand’s name.
Although Chartrand indicated he wanted help in caring for the cats last September, he now says that because of what has happened he’s not looking for help any time soon.
“I hate what happened. I have to settle everything, come back to myself and figure out what I want to do,” he says.
“I’m going to be more careful.”