Opposition leader Aref Salem called on Monday for Montreal city executive committee president Dominique Ollivier to be removed from office.
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“Mrs. Dominique Ollivier, former president of the OCPM, must be removed from her position as president of the Executive Committee of the Plante government. She no longer has the credibility to oversee the finances of Montreal taxpayers,” said Mr. Salem following our Bureau of Investigation’s revelations.
It is unacceptable for OCPM leaders to pay for luxury travel and restaurants at the expense of Montrealers. It is clear that the president of the organization no longer enjoys the trust of citizens. I request his dismissal. 1/2 #polmtl https://t.co/jq9v0VjvFu
— Aref Salem (@arefsalem) November 6, 2023
In recent days we have uncovered numerous questionable expenditures by the heads of the Office de Consultation Publique de Montréal (OCPM), including several work meetings in fine restaurants and numerous trips to all corners of the world. This $3 million organization is fully funded by the City of Montreal.
- Listen to the interview with Aref Salem, leader of the official opposition at Montreal City Hall QUB radio :
For example, Ms. Ollivier, who was president of the organization from 2014 to 2021, shared a $347 meal at a Paris oyster bar to celebrate the birthday of her former business partner Guy Grenier, at taxpayer expense.
After her time at the OCPM, Dominique Ollivier joined Valérie Plante’s party. Since November 2021, she has been President of the Executive Committee and is responsible for the City of Montreal’s finances and budget.
Our revelations also target the current president of the OCPM, Isabelle Beaulieu, a friend of Ms. Ollivier.
“It is clear that the president of the organization no longer has the trust of citizens. I demand his dismissal,” the opposition leader stressed in a tweet.
Ms Beaulieu’s working conditions, which were decided by the local council in 2022, stipulate that the council can terminate Ms Beaulieu’s employment relationship.
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