Plunged into the heart of a storm for several days, the president of the Office de consultation publique de Montréal (OCPM), Isabelle Beaulieu, recognizes that certain expenses made by her office since the start of her mandate have been inappropriate and that time came to review practices within the organization.
Isabelle Beaulieu came out of her silence on Wednesday to speak publicly about the controversy surrounding the management of public funds within the organization she has led since February 2022.
In interview at Duty, she argues that work meetings in restaurants are now a thing of the past. In recent days, a Quebecor media investigation revealed that in 18 months, the bill for restaurant meals had reached $7,981. “I continued with the practices that were in place. Yes, I had work meetings in restaurants near the Office. These have been Office practices for a long time, but these practices will change. There will be no more expenses at restaurants for work meetings,” she said.
Travel has also been the subject of much criticism due not only to its cost, but also to the vagueness surrounding its benefits. They are now suspended until further notice. “The Office has always done international relations. I was not aware of how international relations were done, she said. That said, I completely agree that it’s time we sit down and look at this. The expenses, entertainment and travel that have come to light are legitimate questions. »
As for other controversial expenses, Mme Beaulieu acknowledges that purchasing $900 wireless headphones was a mistake. “I should have bought cheaper equipment. » On the other hand, she believes that the interactive screens, which cost more than $20,000, are justified equipment for the successful holding of citizen consultations. “These are tables that we have like in all educational institutions. These are not televisions. There are none in my office,” she explains.
She also considers it useful to purchase new furniture for public consultation activities.
Rushed return
Mayor Valérie Plante, who criticized Ms.me Beaulieu his refusal to answer the questions of the Montreal Journal, mandated the City’s general auditor to examine the OCPM’s expenses. The mayor of Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, Pierre Lessard-Blais, for his part summoned Mme Beaulieu before the finance committee, which he chairs, so that it can be held accountable for its management.
Isabelle Beaulieu intends to “collaborate entirely” in the audit which will be conducted by the general auditor. “This will allow us to have help to better structure and modernize the management of the Office,” she says.
While the controversy raged in Montreal, the secretary general of the OCPM, Guy Grenier, participated Tuesday in a conference organized by the International Observatory of Participatory Democracy in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Isabelle Beaulieu indicated that after his presentation at the event, Mr. Grenier canceled all his other appointments and returned to Montreal on Wednesday. However, she believes that Mr. Grenier’s participation in this conference was justified, as the event focused on “participatory democracy for diverse, inclusive and transparent cities”. “This is exactly the heart of our work. We don’t have complete knowledge. We draw inspiration from exchanges with others. We don’t think about citizen participation just among ourselves, in Montreal,” she says.
Faintness
To explain his silence over the past few days as well as his refusal to answer Quebecor’s questions during the investigation, Mr.me Beaulieu invokes the duty of reserve to which she generally complies. “Most of the time, we maintain our duty of reserve and only talk about the activities of the Office. » She also maintains that she did not know what elements and what period Quebecor’s reports would cover.
Isabelle Beaulieu, whose mandate was also marked by allegations of a toxic climate within her office, does not intend to resign. “I intend to continue to improve the Office. It’s up to elected officials to determine if I’m the right person. »
In Quebec, the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Andrée Laforest, however indicated that Mme Beaulieu and Mr. Grenier should consider leaving office. “There is unease. These two people are accountable. If the facts revealed to I are true, these two people must think about what comes next, and very quickly,” she declared as she left the Council of Ministers on Wednesday.
With Alexandre Robillard