Montreal mayor stands by Dominique Ollivier after extravagant spending report

Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante is reiterating her confidence in the chair of the city’s executive committee after a report that unveiled extravagant spending of public money while she held a previous post.

A Journal de Montréal investigation found Dominique Ollivier spent large sums on trips and restaurant dinners while president of the Office de Consultation Publique de Montréal (OCPM).

The report also uncovered exorbitant spending took place under current OCPM president Isabelle Beaulieu.

Ollivier previously stood by her expenses in media interviews but said in today’s context she would not have spent so much.

At a press conference Tuesday, Mayor Plante admitted she was troubled by the revelations of the report but she supports Ollivier.

“She does regret and she said that now, with today’s perspective, she said some of those expenses were way too big and it’s not acceptable,” said Plante. “So she said it herself and she also decided to come up front and answer difficult questions to protect her integrity.”

Plante says Montreal’s auditor general will investigate the expenses made by the OCPM, and that Beaulieu will be asked to attend a public commission.

Meanwhile the leader of the Opposition in Montreal, Aref Salem, is calling for Ollivier’s resignation.

“It’s immoral and unethically correct to spend money the way it was spent during the mandate of Mrs. Olliver and during the mandate of Mrs. Beaulieu,” said Salem.