J.D. POTIÉ
Pontiac Dec. 19, 2019
A municipal councillor in Grand Calumet Island is serving a 10-day suspension without pay, after he was proved to . . .
have disrespected some of his co-workers on multiple occasions.
The Commission Municipale du Quebec (CMQ) announced its decision on Dec. 19, regarding a complaint in response to four separate incidents involving councillor Réjean Meilleur.
The decision by the CMQ’s Administrative Judge, Sylvie Périard, stated that Meilleur was effectively suspended from his duties for a 10-day period, starting on Jan. 6.
The decision noted that he was mainly disciplined for disrespectful communications and relations involving incidents with municipal employees.
The four original accusations filed on May 29 were:
On or around July 9 2018, Meilleur allegedly transmitted third-party information to the public regarding an investigation by the province’s anti-corruption task force UPAC, during a work meeting. The information was obtained during the commission of his duties and is not typically released to the public.
On or around Nov. 28 2018, Meilleur was accused of disrespecting the municipality’s Director General, Sabrina Larivière and its assistant director general Philippe Côté, by calling them “pencil pushers” during a work meeting.
Meilleur was once again accused of disrespecting Larivière by telling her “Toi, ma p’tite, je pourrais t’enterrer” (You, my little one, I could bury you), which she interpreted as being a death threat.
On or around March 11, 2019, Meilleur was accused of disrespecting the municipality’s former director general Paul Langlois by saying that Mr. Langlois was a “good bullshitter”.
The decision stated that Meilleur wasn’t found guilty of the first accusation. However, he was found guilty of the following three.
Périard wrote in her decision:
“It is certain that these matters, moreover pronounced publicly, are of disrespectful character. Once again, these matters are reprehensible, disgraceful, humiliating and offensive.”
However, Périard declared that, for the third incident, Meilleur used the expression figuratively, stating that “Ms. Larivière demonstrated herself as quite sensitive”.
Périard wrote in her decision:
“No extended witnesses, except for Ms. Larivière, viewed that matter as a death threat.”
“It remains no less that Mr. Meilleur acted in a disrespectful, impolite and intimidating way towards Ms. Larivière. His words were reprehensible.”
In her findings, Périard concluded that Meilleur did not commit the first incident, stating that witness testimonies were contradictory.
As for the second, third and fourth incidents, Meilleur was reprimanded and suspended for 10 days.
Larivière declined to comment when contacted by THE EQUITY.
Meilleur but didn’t respond in time for print, despite numerous requests for comment.
