Uncovering the Scandal: The Montreal Public Consultation Office and its Toxic Work Climate

2023-11-03 04:00:00

The Montreal Public Consultation Office, financed 100% by public funds, almost escapes all control For years. This allowed the establishment of a culture of spending at restaurants, traveling, cronyism and even poisoned a toxic work climate, problems once morest which the City of Montreal says it is powerless.

The internal crisis that has shaken the OCPM since January is far from being resolved, since employee departures have continued, despite an internal investigation.

In February, several media, including The newspaper, reported allegations of a “toxic climate” established by President Isabelle Beaulieu, marked in particular by “infantilizing micromanagement”.

An internal investigation was launched following the revelations.

Although some employees refused to speak to us for fear that a “witch hunt” would be launched, we were able to speak with 6 current or former employees, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisals.

They confirmed to us that despite the investigation, working relations remained tense, leading to new departures.

Five people have in fact left their jobs since February, bringing the total departures to at least 11 since the arrival of Ms. Beaulieu at the start of 2022.

A botched investigation?

The very validity of the internal investigation has been called into question. It was initially led by the secretary general Guy Grenier, close to the president.

According to ethics expert Michel Séguin, Ms. Beaulieu should not have asked Mr. Grenier to conduct this investigation.

“Nothing allows me to conclude that he was biased. However, when we carry out this type of investigation, we must ensure that there is a healthy distance so as not to sow doubt. That’s the ba-ba,” he said.

Then, an external firm was called in for reinforcement.

“We received an extremely summary presentation of the findings [de la firme externe] without any access to the final report and without a clear explanation of the mandate of this investigation, an employee explains to us. So it left a bit of a bitter taste there.”

According to this source, this firm subsequently acted as a consultant for the establishment of human resources standards and policies.

“It wasn’t at all [été fait] in consultation with employees. These are things that were imposed on us,” says the source.

A code of ethics was introduced in June and all employees had to sign it. It requires them to remain united with their employer at all times in the eyes of those around them.

“Actually, there was change, but it was for the worse. There was more and more repression. I know it was very difficult for them. I know that there are some who have left,” tells us another source who was employed by the OCPM in 2022.

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