A group of Quebec auditors is warning that political corruption will continue in Quebec towns and cities unless their powers are boosted.
The Association of Municipal Auditors General of Quebec (AVGMQ) suggests that the powers of municipal auditors must be beefed up in order to protect against abuses in public spending.
All other legislative measures designed to quell corruption are bound to fail if this is not done, they write in a 29-page brief submitted to the Charbonneau Commission Thursday.
Among their demands is the power to oversee the bidding process right up until the contracts are completed.
Elected officials are also frequently provided insufficient information to make informed decisions, another situation which needs to be adressed.
There is also a lack of means to field complaints by companies that bid on municipal contracts, according to the document.
The auditors also list a variety of other suggestions which they believe would reduce the opportunities for corruption and collusion.
The group is headed by Jacques Bergeron, the top auditor for the city of Montreal.
The organization wrote the brief upon the request of France Charbonneau, who heads the Charbonneau Commission which focuses on corruption in the Quebec construction industry.
-With a file from The Canadian Press
