Projet Montréal blasts Mayor Denis Coderre for hiring friend
City says contract is over for employee hired to negotiate with Montreal Police Brotherhood
The opposition at Montreal City Hall is accusing Mayor Denis Coderre of repeatedly using public funds to hire close friends.
Robert Bouvier, a former president of the Teamsters Union and a longtime friend of Coderre, was hired to negotiate with the Montreal Police Brotherhood.
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The city says that Bouvier's contract ended in December 2015. However, Bouvier could be called back as negotiations continue with the Brotherhood.
Guillaume Lavoie, a councillor for the opposition, Projet Montréal, said the contract awarded to Bouvier was buried in 200-page document with little explanation.
"He did it without a call for tenders, in the least transparent fashion possible," said Lavoie.
Lavoie said the salary for the contract amounts to $24,999 – just one dollar shy of the amount at which Coderre would have been required by law to launch a call for tenders.
A spokesperson for the city told Radio-Canada that Bouvier worked 10 half-days and a full day, amounting to a total salary of $4,020, by Dec.31, 2015.
'So what's the problem?'
Coderre says he has nothing to apologize for.
The mayor told Radio-Canada that he has met many qualified people during his 30 years of public service . He said if he thinks a particular person meets the requirements for the job, he will hire them.
"To have someone with his knowledge, his credibility and to be to reach the union sector — I think that it is worth having him work with us," said Coderre.
"So what's the problem? Is it because I know him?" asked Coderre."Yes. I look for people I know."
Emerging pattern
Lavoie said this latest example is part of a pattern, claiming that Coderre has awarded other contracts to people who worked on or donated to his municipal and federal campaigns in the past.
In November 2014, Project Montréal councillor Alex Norris called on Montreal's inspector-general to look into a city contract awarded to a law firm that he says has ties to Coderre.