The Municipality of Pontiac has been chosen as one of 20 municipalities across the province whose code of ethics and professional conduct will undergo an audit by the Quebec Municipal Commission this year.
“This work has the goal of evaluating if, above legal requirements, the codes of ethics adopted by municipalities to regulate the behaviour of elected officials and employees actively contribute to the reinforcement of an ethical culture,” reads a June 12 release on the CMQ’s website.
“A clear, well-formulated code of ethics that is appropriate to the municipal context and, above all, known to all, promotes more consistent decision-making, reduces the risk of misconduct and protects the municipality from the financial, legal or reputational consequences of ethical lapses,” the release elaborates.
All municipalities being audited have fewer than 100,000 inhabitants.
Municipalities are chosen for audits like these according to a number of different factors, wrote CMQ director Barbara Hernandez in an email.
“This planning process considers many sources of information, including subjects of interest and concerns relayed by the municipal sector or reported in the news, financial analysis or other relevant information to municipal management.”
Pontiac assistant director general Sandra Martineau said her understanding is that the municipality was chosen at random for this audit, and that all municipalities must go through this process.
Martineau attached this excerpt sent in an email from the ministry concerning the nature of the audit.
“It is important to clarify that the work carried out by the vice-presidency for verification does not constitute an investigation concerning your municipality, nor does it constitute any form of supervision, provisional administration, mediation or an escort.”
Pontiac mayor Roger Larose said he is not sure when the work will begin or what exactly it will look like, adding he is not concerned about the audit.
“It’s a good thing to go through, because it’s [being] clear about everything,” he said.
When the audit is complete, a full report will be available to the public on the CMQ website describing the commission’s conclusions and recommendations.
