MONTREAL - The political firestorm over Premier Jean Charest's refusal to call a public inquiry into the construction industry has widened in scope, as a Montreal borough mayor has added her voice to the throngs.
Chantal Rouleau, of the Rivière des Prairies-Pointe aux Trembles borough, says an inquiry is the only way to regain the confidence of the population.
Elected borough mayor in a June 2010 byelection, Rouleau says it wasn't long before she realized the system through which cities award construction contracts was broken.
"Even if we have serious doubts about a business being linked to organized crime, we have no choice," Rouleau says. "We have to give the contract to the lowest bidder."
Rouleau wrote a letter to Charest on Friday expressing her concern, even though the premier is currently in Europe to promote his northern development plan.
In the letter, Rouleau implored Charest to change the laws and give municipalities some power to negotiate and to choose the bidder they feel is most appropriate.
And of course, Rouleau also asked for that inquiry, something Charest has yet to decide on, though it is expected a decision will be made prior to the Liberal convention Oct. 21.
