(Quebec) A communications agency was paid $1,375 to write a speech for the Minister of Public Security, François Bonnardel.
This was revealed Tuesday by Liberal MP Jennifer Maccarone during the study of the budgetary appropriations of the Ministry of Public Safety, an accountability exercise.
“Mister Minister, do you have press officers? » launched Mme Maccarone, saying he found it “curious” to say the least that a minister outsourced the writing of a speech to the private sector.
The speech in question, delivered to the National Assembly, focused on Bill 14 aimed at modernizing police practice, which was adopted on October 3.
“Yes, one,” replied François Bonnardel, referring to his attaché Maxime Bélanger.
Mme Maccarone continued by saying she was “surprised” to learn in the appropriations books that the minister had called on the Agence Média Presse de Montréal to draft a speech.
“Don’t your press officers write speeches for you? she asked. Me, I write my speeches by myself, I don’t have a press officer […], but you paid someone to write this speech for you? »
It is also a contract concluded by mutual agreement, that is to say without a call for tenders, added the elected liberal. “I assume all the press officers were busy?” »
Mr. Bonnardel then argued that the order had not been placed by his office, but by the communications department of the ministry. “We have to make a difference,” he said.
“It’s still a significant amount, $1,375 for writing a speech,” replied M.me Maccarone. Maybe you need to hire more press officers, I don’t know. »