The former boss of the Office de consultation publique de Montréal (OCPM) thought she could survive the crisis that shook her organization in November and was surprised to be let go publicly by her friend Dominique Ollivier.
This is what emerges from the text messages exchanged by Isabelle Beaulieu and her number two Guy Grenier last month, exchanges which offer a rare insight behind the scenes of an organization in the midst of a media storm. The Press obtained them thanks to the access to information law.
“I’m not resigning and neither are you!” The fuckers will have done wrong [sic] at the office. It’s sad. But we stay. DO [Dominique Ollivier] is really in trouble,” analyzed Isabelle Beaulieu on November 6, two days after the first revelations by Quebecor journalists.
They scrutinized the OCPM’s travels and restaurant expenses to establish that this very small organization was nevertheless the biggest spender in the Montreal municipal apparatus. A $347 Parisian oyster dinner and a long list of trips to exotic destinations particularly left their mark.
Isabelle Beaulieu and her general manager Guy Grenier were far from delighted to find themselves in the media spotlight. On November 2, the second sent the first an article on major job cuts at TVA. “Hehehehe,” laughs Isabelle Beaulieu. “Félix Séguin? Annabelle [Blais] ? “, she adds, mentioning the names of journalists who reported on her expenses.
“Nothing to do there wanted [sic] make our skin. Not completed. We’re bored [sic] », adds Mme Beaulieu, the same day. “We’re OK. »
She was wrong. The city council removed her from office three weeks later.
“Dominique Ollivier and Plante let me go”
Ahead of this decision: the explosion of a long-standing friendship which transformed into a brutal political confrontation between Dominique Ollivier and Isabelle Beaulieu. The first had chaired the OCPM from 2014 to 2021. The two women had known each other behind the scenes of the Parti Québécois in the early 2000s. But in November, they publicly blamed each other for excessive spending at the OCPM.
Text message exchanges show that Dominique Ollivier communicated with Guy Grenier (also a former business partner) before the publication of Quebecor’s revelations. “You didn’t talk to them [aux journalistes], is not it ? », asks Mme Ollivier in a message to Guy Grenier, who forwarded it to Isabelle Beaulieu.
PHOTO TAKEN FROM AN OCPM REPORT
In this photo of Annual report 2022 of the OCPM, we can notably see Valérie Plante (center), Isabelle Beaulieu (in brown, behind), Dominique Ollivier (flowered outfit, right) and Guy Grenier (far right).
Once the crisis is triggered, communications seem to be cut off between the two women. Isabelle Beaulieu relays the words of her former friend, who overwhelm her to LCN. “Dominique doesn’t defend me…” she lets it slip, euphemistically. “D.O. [Dominique Ollivier] and Plante left me. »
At this time, the Plante administration is trying to direct criticism towards Mr.me Beaulieu and the administration of the OCPM in an attempt to protect Mme Ollivier, the president of the executive committee. This was “able to face the music, to be present, transparent”, assures the mayor publicly. Quite the opposite for Isabelle Beaulieu: “I find it unacceptable that she made no comments, did not want to meet the media,” attacked Mme Plant.
Then, as the crisis worsens, Mme Beaulieu calculates his exits. She will do a limited number of interviews to explain herself. “Now we stop,” she said afterwards. The pressure must return to DO [Dominique Ollivier]. »
“Can’t you go back faster? »
The number of text messages between Isabelle Beaulieu and Guy Grenier is particularly important because the latter was in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during a good part of the crisis. This participation in an international conference will be strongly criticized.
PHOTO CAROLINE BERGERON, TAKEN FROM THE MONTREAL PUBLIC CONSULTATION OFFICE WEBSITE
Guy Grenier, secretary general of the Office de consultation publique de Montréal (OCPM).
“If the crisis becomes worse, is there any way for you to return home faster? », asks the president of the OCPM, on Sunday November 5, at the beginning of the scandal. “Just if it was madness.” » “No, I’m stuck,” replied Guy Grenier.
The next day, the pressure builds. “Can’t you go back faster? It really sucks. » “It’s worse than the Spectrum killings. This is the only news. » “The media is on fire. Worse than a Stanley Cup,” she would say later.
Just before the report was published, Mme Beaulieu had suggested blaming the imminence of the publication for postponing the release of a new website and a new logo. “We don’t have $$ anymore anyway,” replies Guy Grenier. ” Perfect. But let us agree to say that it is because of Quebecor,” indicates the president of the OCPM.
This week, Isabelle Beaulieu did not want to comment on her exchanges with her ex-second. “I will not make any comment,” she responded by email to The Press.
Guy Grenier, who also processed the request for access to information, indicated by telephone that the document spoke for itself and that he had nothing to add.
Corrigendum
A previous version of this text claimed that Dominique Ollivier had sold his shares in a communications firm to Isabelle Beaulieu. They owned the same business at different times, but Mme Ollivier assures that he “never had any business transaction with Mr.me Beaulieu.
With William Leclerc and Vincent Larouche, The Press