An old friend of the PM, “paid to do nothing”, writes the CAQ

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“We’ve known for a long time “, was recognized Philippe Couillard, on the 6th of December last, after the announcement of the departure of his right-hand man, Juan Roberto Iglesias, noting that the latter was ” exceedingly effective for judge folders, set (and) advance “.

Marc-André Gagnon

Thursday, 29 march, 2018 00:00

UPDATE
Thursday, 29 march, 2018 00:00

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Even if the agreement with the medical specialists who is signed for two weeks, the associate secretary-general and good friend of Philippe Couillard, Juan Roberto Iglesias, will continue to pocket an annual salary of $ 261,000 until the end of the liberal mandate.

Mr. Iglesias, who has worked as a top official of the State in the first three years of the government Couillard, was initially expected to retire in the beginning of the year.

The office of the prime minister had made the announcement on the 6th of last December, but five days before Christmas, Mr. Couillard announced that the commitment of his long-time friend would be extended so that it will be part of the negotiating committee between the government and the medical specialists.

This arrangement of$ 2 billion, which was the subject of an agreement in principle in mid-February, has been officially signed on the 14th of march last, by the president of the Fédération des médecins spécialistes du Québec, Diane Francoeur, and the minister of Health, Gaétan Barrette. Note that the last had been excluded from the negotiation.

Until 30 June

Questioned whether the term of office of Mr. Iglesias is completed, the ministry of the executive Council, the equivalent of the department of the prime minister, confirmed to the parliamentary Bureau that he will remain in his post until next June 30, as stipulated in a decree.

“Mr. Iglesias collaborates in the monitoring of the implementation of the agreement with the doctors. It is assigned to different folders by the secretary general and clerk of the executive council “, is limited to say the person responsible for the media relations of the ministry of the executive Council, Jean Auclair.

“It is on a tablet of golden until the end of the month of June, paid to do nothing, at taxpayers’ expense : this is the translation of this porridge bureaucratic, ” responded the deputy caquiste Éric Caire, who has produced a number of requests for access to information about it.

Paid more expensive than its successor

The spokesperson of the CAQ in terms of efficiency of public administration laments also noted that Mr. Iglesias, today as associate secretary general, is gaining more and more expensive that the one who succeeded him as secretary-general.

In fact, according to the decree of December 20, the annual salary of Mr. Iglesias is 261 467 $, while that of his successor as the first servant of the State, André Fortier, is 232 414 $.

A year ago, almost to the day, the annual salary of Mr. Iglesias as secretary general of the executive Board, bonus and allowances of stay included, was increased from 371 200 $ 386 561 $, that is a compensation almost two times greater than that paid to the prime minister.

“We ensured that Mr. Iglesias be lavishly treated until the end of the liberal regime “, according to the member for La Peltrie.

Timeline

• Appointed in April 2014 as secretary general of the executive Council.
• Annual salary initial : 310 000 $, + bonus 15 %, + 1225 $ per month in ” living expenses “.
• March 2017 : His contract is renewed. His annual salary goes to 323 358 $, + bonus 15 %, + 1225 $ per month in ” living expenses “.
• On December 6, 2017, after health problems, Mr. Iglesias announced his departure, but is committed to ensuring the transition until January 8, 2018.
• The Council of ministers appoints André Fortier for his successor, with an annual salary of 232 414 $.
• December 20, 2017 : the commitment of Mr. Iglesias is eventually maintained until June 30, 2018, to negotiate with the doctors and specialists. His annual salary, this time as associate secretary general, is set to 261 467 $.