The allegations published by La Presse on Tuesday regarding the questionable business dealings of a high-ranking Montreal city official are “extremely worrying” in the eyes of Valérie Plante.
Posted at 2:32 p.m.
The president of the Montreal Electric Services Commission (CSEM) has outlined plans to launch his service in the hydrogen market with a company that employed him and in which he until recently held shares, according to confidential emails. Sid Zerbo was suspended following questions from La Presse.
“We have instructed the comptroller general who is handling the case to investigate the matter based on the information published by La Presse, which is extremely worrying,” the Montreal mayor said on the sidelines of a Press conference. “I want the Comptroller General to do his job. We want a healthily managed city where there are no possible conflicts of interest. »
Ms. Plante specifically emphasized that the president of the Montreal Electric Services Commission is an appointment by the Council of Ministers of the Government of Quebec.
In particular, Sid Zerbo distributed within the CSEM a document with the logo of his organization and that of his former employer Charbone Hydrogène, which described a hydrogen production plant project. He also mentioned “the construction of a new hydrogen pipeline network with a minimum output per district” as a possible pilot project.
In a message to La Presse, Mr Zerbo defended himself by arguing that it was “desirable to think about the potential of hydrogen in different ways” but that no concrete project was on the table. Rails.
with Isabelle Ducas, La Presse