CMQ

Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

PERCÉ – The Town of Percé is demonstrating a clear commitment to improving its governance. This is the key take away from the report published on February 20 by Minister of Municipal Affairs Andrée Laforest. The report was prepared by observer Mélanie Robert, who was appointed following last July’s damning finding by the Commission municipale du Québec (CMQ). 

Mélanie Robert’s mandate was to verify whether the measures put in place by the town, in response to the CMQ’s recommendations were effectively addressing the identified issues. 

The final report was presented to council members and the general management team on February 19. 

Throughout her mandate, Ms. Robert noted a clear desire to rectify the situation, both on the part of the town’s employees and the members of the council. 

She notes that the town has already taken serious and significant steps to remedy certain problems, including the active participation of its staff and council members in information sessions, and the invitation extended by senior management to various bidders to carry out an organizational diagnosis. 

The council ensures that it has all the information necessary for decision-making, in particular by introducing decision summaries for more complex or extensive files. 

Ms. Robert also notes that the town is in good financial health and the main internal control and monitoring mechanisms are in place. 

However, she recommends that the Regulation decreeing the rules for budgetary control and monitoring be updated, in particular to specify the areas of jurisdiction for which each delegation applies and to update the amounts thus authorized. The undersigned also recommends that these mechanisms be accompanied by work tools that promote a better understanding of the budget management process among teams while ensuring sustainability in the transmission of best practices in this area. 

It should be noted that this recommendation could also be enhanced by those, where applicable, of the human resources representative who will issue an organizational diagnosis. 

The observer reiterates the importance for the town to ensure complete management and appropriate monitoring of sensitive or difficult labour relations files. She points out that specific training in conflict management exists and that specialized support resources are available. 

She suggests that the town update its Policy on the Prevention of Harassment, Incivility and Violence in the Workplace. 

The administration must continue its efforts to ensure sound management of the town. 

The Minister of Municipal Affairs is confident that other actions will be deployed to this end, in the interest of the entire community. 

The ministry is also closely monitoring the situation and remains available, particularly through the Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine Regional Directorate, to help and support the town in carrying out its duties. 

“The seven recommendations of the Commission’s investigation department have almost been completed. We still have a few small tasks to complete before the rest of the year,” says Mayor Daniel Leboeuf. 

One of these is the organizational diagnosis ordered in February and which will be completed in the spring. 

In July 2024, the CMQ report concluded that wrongdoing had been committed in the Town of Percé. 

The Commission’s president, Jean-Philippe Marois, noted a worrying culture regarding compliance with applicable rules within the town. 

This culture is reflected in a flagrant lack of internal control measures and monitoring mechanisms. This is the main problem identified by the investigation. 

Thus, the situation in which the town is currently immersed is caused by numerous dysfunctions, which are only the symptoms of this serious case of mismanagement and for which the responsibility cannot be attributed solely to the general management. The commission noted that significant disagreements persist within the administration and have led to the resignation of several employees. As for the town council, it does not seem to realize the extent of the situation or show any desire to rectify it.