The president of a homeless aid organization which receives millions in public money has just slammed the door by denouncing an embezzlement of funds intended for shelters, learned The Press.
CARE Montreal has approximately 175 employees and provides a bed for 250 homeless Montrealers in two buildings in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve. The current crisis puts them at risk.
“We have been seized of worrying irregularities in certain invoicing and transactions carried out by the management in place at the time [en août dernier] “, Writes the resigning president Catheryn Roy-Goyette in her letter of resignation, dated Friday. She mentions “important contracts signed without the agreement of the board of directors with relatives, disappearance of large sums of cash, double billing, billing for personal services and so on”.
“I dare to hope that the State will know how to take its responsibilities,” she adds.
She declined to comment further.
CARE Montreal has a budget of 11 million, mainly from subsidies from the health network and, to a lesser extent, from the City of Montreal.
The direction to which Mme Roy-Goyette is referring to is that of Michel Monette, who founded CARE Montreal in 2018 with the HOCHMA Mennonite Church, of which he was pastor. He was the organization’s executive director until his dismissal last August.
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Catheryn Roy-Goyette, resigning president of CARE Montreal
Mr. Monette and his wife – the current pastor of the church and administrator of CARE Montreal – reject outright the allegations of the outgoing president.
After a few years of operating a small heat drop-in centre, CARE Montreal has grown rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic and, in two years, has become a major player in the fight against homelessness.
“Unacceptable Vendetta”
The resignation comes a few days after a failed attempt to merge CARE Montreal with CAP St-Barnabé, another community organization in eastern Montreal.
The two organizations have wanted to ally for several months, according to plans that have varied over time. On Monday, a public meeting of CARE Montreal members considered the possibility of dissolving the organization and transferring its assets to CAP St-Barnabé. The majority of members agreed, but the Mennonite Church – which has veto power – refused.
In a telephone interview with The PressMr. Monette argued that his dismissal and the allegations were motivated by CAP St-Barnabé’s desire to appropriate the assets of CARE Montreal.
“These are allegations. There is nothing justified,” he argued.
There is nothing illegal in what I did. […] They threw me away like an old sock.
Michel Monette, former Executive Director of CARE Montreal
The Press obtained a “draft” version of the latest financial statements, signed by a chartered professional accountant (CPA), a document which was circulated among the members of the board of directors. This report identifies nearly $600,000 in expenses that benefited board members, management or their families. Mr. Monette’s children would thus have received $88,000 in salary and Mr. Monette’s company would have obtained a contract worth $79,000.
The founder recognizes the validity of this data, but adds that “all of this is legal stuff. There is nothing illegal”. He claimed that his IT company had won a tender, without his involvement. His children “have the right to work” and earn the same salary as the others.
“I find – particularly in the current context – this vendetta unacceptable. Unacceptable,” added Mr.e Pierre-Paul Bourdage, the lawyer for the HOCHMA church. “There will be remedies, I tell you. We didn’t want to come to this, but Mme [Roy-]Goyette acted totally, totally irresponsibly. »
“Worrying” situation, according to the mayor’s office
The CIUSSS du Centre-Sud de Montréal, which distributes aid envelopes to homelessness organizations, has received a copy of Catheryn Roy-Goyette’s letter of resignation.
“We will not comment on the file for the moment. This is a situation that we are monitoring closely and we are in communication with the two organizations,” reacted Jean Nicolas Aubé, communications manager for the CIUSSS.
“This situation reported in the resignation letter of Mr.me Roy-Goyette is worrying, said the office of Mayor Valérie Plante. The City will make the necessary verifications in connection with the funding granted. »
The CSN union, which has been representing CARE Montreal employees for a few months, expresses the same fears as the resigning president.
“The allegations against the former CEO and his entourage are troubling. A man who had no respect for his employees, who did not hesitate to retaliate when they were unionized,” reacted Lucie Longchamps, vice-president of the Federation of Health and Social Services (FSSS –CSN). “We are extremely concerned about the management and governance issues at CARE Montreal. […] Public authorities must intervene quickly to ensure that public funds are used wisely. »
CAP St-Barnabé did not call back The Press.