Trip by Gatineau elected official to Russia: no harm caused to the city’s computer system

The trip to Russia by a Gatineau city councillor ultimately caused more fear than harm to the City of Gatineau. Mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette says there was no impact on the municipality’s IT infrastructure.

The newspaper The Law revealed Monday that Pointe-Gatineau district councillor Mike Duggan used computer equipment belonging to the City of Gatineau during a trip to Russia.

The Canadian government recommends avoiding all travel to this country, particularly due to its armed conflict with Ukraine. A security protocol has therefore been launched by the City to ensure the integrity of its infrastructure.

We will continue to monitor in the coming days to ensure that the computer system remains intact, declared the mayor of Gatineau in a press scrum on Tuesday.

She claims that Mike Duggan received new computer equipment, in accordance with protocol. [de sécurité] deployed. For privacy reasons, she did not offer further details regarding the security measures put in place.

Reasons for travel still unclear

Maude Marquis-Bissonnette said she still does not know the reasons for Mr. Duggan’s trip to Russia. Questioned by Radio-Canada, her office did not comment on whether the mayor will demand the councillor’s resignation.

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Maude-Marquis Bissonnette during a press scrum on Tuesday

Photo: Radio-Canada / Anne-Charlotte Carignan

The next step for me is to sit down with him. There will definitely be discussions to be had with the council members in the coming days, she said in a press scrum regarding maintaining the bond of trust with Mr. Duggan.

For his part, Councilor Mike Duggan did not wish to speak to the media on Tuesday.

On Monday, he told CBC in writing that he did not want to comment on the situation, particularly because of the current Russophobia.

With information from Patrick Foucault