Advertisement

UPAC reportedly investigating Quebec’s transport ministry

Click to play video: 'UPAC investigates Quebec transport ministry'
UPAC investigates Quebec transport ministry
WATCH ABOVE: Quebec’s anti-corruption agency has reportedly opened ten files investigating contracts related to the province’s transport department. Global's Raquel Fletcher reports – May 19, 2016

MONTREAL – Quebec’s anti-corruption agency has reportedly opened ten files investigating contracts related to the province’s transport department.

Former Transport Minister Robert Poëti allegedly flagged a series of irregularities, including the way public contracts were awarded.

He hired analyst Annie Trudel to look in to certain activities he thought could be linked to corruption; she said she was confronted with resistance throughout her entire 18 months at the ministry.

READ MORE: Opinion: How can Quebec voters choose between racism and corruption?

In a resignation letter, Trudel said her work was hampered, and in some cases even “sabotaged” by senior officials.

Thursday, Premier Philippe Couillard said current Transport Minister Jacques Daoust‘s chief of staff will be replaced.

Story continues below advertisement

READ MORE: Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard insists he didn’t demote transport minister for flagging problems

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Deputy transport minister Dominique Savoie also offered to step down after allegations of mismanagement appeared.

“I’ve decided that the following actions be taken: Mme. Savoie has offered to leave her post, which of course, we accepted,” said Couillard.

“A new deputy minister will be designated. We have also decided we would create, at the Ministry of Transport, similar in structure to what we have created by law for the City of Montreal, an Office of the Inspector General.”

Demoted

Poëti was demoted in January during the cabinet shuffle in order to, according to Couillard, make room for more women and young people.

READ MORE: Big changes as Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard shuffles cabinet

“It’s three months ago and I have the meeting with the premier and I don’t doubt what he said,” said Poëti.

“He wanted more women and more young people and more people from different areas. I believe him. This is what he told me and I don’t doubt.”

Allegations of mismanagement

Quebec’s L’actualité magazine reported that Poëti had discovered transport employees were being intimidated by their superiors and embarrassing cost overruns on public projects were hidden.

Story continues below advertisement

The magazine also reported that former employees were given no-bid contracts worth slightly under $25,000 — the legal limit that triggers a call for tenders.

READ MORE: Quebec wants to recuperate sums it lost to fraud and corruption

Daoust said he forwarded a USB key to Quebec’s corruption agency with documentation he received from Poëti.

“I think the best thing to do with perception is to be transparent,” he said after making the documents available to the public.

Sponsored content

AdChoices