The Plante government has appointed former Bureau des publics publics du Québec (BAPE) president Philippe Bourke to head the OCPM, which has been placed under supervision for several weeks following a scandal over its leaders' spending.
• Also read: Montreal city council shows OCPM President Isabelle Beaulieu the door
Mr. Bourke is currently a senior executive at Hydro-Québec with particular responsibility for the environmental transition strategy. He previously led the BAPE from 2018 to 2022.
“His extensive expertise in the administration and leadership of various organizations and associations, as well as his keen interest in mobilization and behavior change strategies, make Mr. Bourke a candidate of choice for the position to be filled,” documents submitted to Montreal elected officials said .
The OCPM was founded in 2002 on the same principles as the BAPE.
Mr. Bourke will serve as interim president of the OCPM for a maximum period of six months and will receive an annual salary of the equivalent of $180,000 for this role.
He will succeed Isabelle Beaulieu, who was dismissed as OCPM president on November 21 for “serious misconduct.”
Mr Bourke will also earn more than his predecessor, whose salary was almost $157,000.
Ms Beaulieu fell from grace after our investigative agency reported on her expenses, those of her predecessor Dominique Ollivier and the secretaries general Luc Doray and Guy Grenier.
Mr Bourke's appointment must be approved at the next council meeting, which begins on Monday.
However, this should only be a formality as it has already been approved by the board.
This interim appointment is made possible by amendments to the City of Montreal Charter approved by the National Assembly last week.
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