Société du Parc Jean-Drapeau to be restructured
Overhaul comes a month after damning report found major problems with the way contracts were awarded
Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre says there will be major changes for the Société du Parc Jean-Drapeau — the group that runs Parc Jean-Drapeau.
The move comes about one month after a scathing report was released by the city's Inspector-General Denis Gallant, in which he found "serious irregularities" in the way contracts were awarded.
- Daniel Blier steps down from Société du Parc Jean-Drapeau after report
- Montreal corruption watchdog finds 'serious irregularities' in Parc Jean-Drapeau contracts
Société du Parc Jean-Drapeau was awarding contracts for projects to improve Parc Jean-Drapeau in time for Montreal's 375th anniversary celebration in 2017, including building a central plaza, an outdoor amphitheatre and a boardwalk.
In March, the inspector-general released a report that found Sociét é du Parc Jean-Drapeau — the publicly funded body that runs the park — ignored or incorrectly applied rules for awarding several contracts over the last two years.
The report also stated that so far, more than $2 million was spent on the project, but it was difficult to determine precisely what that money has paid for because monthly invoices were vague.
The executive director of Société du Parc Jean-Drapeau, Daniel Blier, resigned following the report.
Since then, a commission of elected officials recommended that the Société be placed under trusteeship.
Instead, someone will be appointed interim manager, until a new head is elected.
"I don't have time for now to have a structural debate -- no time for philosophy. I really believe that if we have pragmatic way — and if we have some guidelines and checks and balances — to make sure that at the end of the day we will be there to protect Montrealers and taxpayer money, we will go for it," Coderre said.
Coderre said he would like the projects to continue, adding that once the city's 375th anniversary is over, he may look at permanent structural changes to the way Société du Parc Jean-Drapeau is run.