(Quebec) The Québec Ombudsman, Marc-André Dowd, is seeking to temper the reactions aroused by the conclusions of his investigation, unveiled in mid-November, on “serious breaches” by the Ministry of Education in the management of a grant program. Today, he says, “the problems observed are practically solved”.
A few weeks ago, the Québec Ombudsman revealed that it had opened an investigation following an anonymous denunciation within the framework of the An Act to facilitate the disclosure of wrongdoings relating to public bodies which had made it possible to observe “practices [constituant] a serious case of mismanagement” in the management of a grant program. The ministry’s political cabinet was accused of “serious failings” and preferential treatment in its management of the program.
In a press briefing, Mr. Dowd had not identified the ministry, but in a written communication the same day, the Minister of Education Bernard Drainville had revealed that it was his ministry that was targeted, and that the complaint was tabled in February 2018, when the Liberals were in power.
Mr. Drainville had also affirmed that the 60 million program targeted by the investigation was used to support organizations working in the field of education. He had cited as an example the Breakfast Club, Allô prof or the Federation of Parents’ Committees of Quebec, without specifying which organizations would have benefited from the largesse of the political cabinet.
An administrative investigation
As he tabled his 2021-2022 annual report in Parliament on Thursday, Marc-André Dowd returned to the storm caused by the publication of the conclusions of his investigation last November.
“The purpose of our investigation was to ensure that the subsidy program was properly administered in accordance with the rules […]. It revealed that over a long period, the administrative management of this subsidy program was problematic, particularly in the processing of applications before the Minister’s decision,” he recalled.
“Our investigation remained at all times on the administrative side of the border. The only implicated in this case is the Ministry of Education. No adverse finding has been issued with respect to any particular individual,” he added.
Mr. Dowd then clarified that the former Liberal Minister of Education, Sébastien Proulx, was not targeted by his investigation, just like those who succeeded him. “There are no adverse findings directed at [Sébastien] Proulx or any other political or administrative actor. Our only challenge was the Ministry of Education and our recommendations have all been addressed,” he said.