Montreal will have inspector-general early next year, says Denis Coderre

Montreal mayor Denis Coderre says he will create an inspector-general position to act as the city's corruption watchdog within the first 100 days of his mandate — as promised during his election campaign — but it's not going to happen before the end of the year.

Coderre said creating the position requires amending current provincial legislation, meaning the city will have to wait until the National Assembly reconvenes Feb. 11, 2014.

"You know that in terms of legislative change, there are several departments that are involved. So I am happy with the response of the government of Quebec. The City of Montreal will have its inspector-general," said Coderre at a news conference today. 

Quebec's Municipal Affairs Minister, Sylvain Gaudreault, promised that the provincial government would adopt the necessary legislative changes.

"The Quebec government fully supports the creation of an inspector-general in Montreal. It will...take legislative amendments to various laws, but we are working on it," said Gaudreault.

The Inspector General will have a non-renewable five-year term and will report to municipal council.