The Inspector General of Montreal has tabled a report showing the organization that runs Jean Drapeau Park may have mismanaged millions of dollars in public funds.
The Societé du Parc Jean Drapeau is in the process of overseeing a revitalization of several buildings and areas on Ile Ste. Helene and Jean Drapeau Park, including Place des Nations, the creation of a riverside walking path, and the construction of an amphitheatre, to be ready for Montreal's 375th anniversary celebrations in 2017.
However the Society is not overseeing the reconstruction projects directly. Instead it handed the task to the non-profit Quartier International de Montreal (QIM) at a cost of $1,000,000.
In his report tabled on Monday, Denis Gallant said this was the first mistake made, because this contract should have gone to public tender but did not.
Gallant's report also uncovered suggestions of favouritism in 12 other contracts overseen by QIM, with four contracts worth $7.75 million apparently awarded without proper public tenders. Eight other projects which have already been completed were subject to "major irregularities."
The Inspector General is recommending the city of Montreal step in and offer legal and technical expertise to the Societé du Parc Jean Drapeau, but mayor Denis Coderre said he's lost confidence in the General Manager of the organization.
"I'm not pleased with the report and the general manager lost my confidence. he shouldn't be there at all," said Coderre.
He is demanding a resignation from the head of the board. '
"There's a board of directors out there, they got the message. I'm blunt about it," said Coderre.
Luc Ferrandez, leader of Projet Montreal and the opposition at City Hall, said Gallant's report makes it clear the Societé du Parc Jean Drapeau should no longer have control over public spending.
"It's not just this guy and replacing this guy, it's reconsidering the amount of contract we're passing by the Society, their conseil d'administration, their way to operate," said Ferrandez.
Meanwhile Coderre wants to know if the contracts that have yet to be completed should be thrown out.
"There are other issues vis-a-vis the bid process, to see what happened. If we gave them to another organization and if there is a way to see what will happen then. Do we have to get rid of all those contracts and start from scratch?"
A special commission will meet later this week to determine if anyone should be fired, and to find out if the work being done for the 375th anniversary can still be done for 2017.
