Elected representatives and executives, a school board, have drunk at the expense of taxpayers

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Beer, strong drinks, and seven bottles of wine were purchased for a total of $ 360, representing 33 % of the total amount of the invoice.

Valérie Fortin

Thursday, 18 January 2018 18:02

UPDATE
Thursday, 18 January 2018 18:06

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SAGUENAY | elected officials, and officers of the Commission scolaire des Rives-du-Saguenay have enjoyed a Christmas dinner rather watered by December 2016.

VAT News has put the hand on the invoice to the restaurant where the event was held.

December 14, 2016, 17 commissioners and directors of service have shared a meal at the restaurant, The Normandy, in The borough of la Baie, Saguenay. The invoice amounted to 1093,85 $, not counting the tip. The bill has been paid with the credit card of the school board.

What surprises, is that in the course of the evening, the elected officials and managers have consumed alcohol at the expense of taxpayers. Beer, strong drinks, and seven bottles of wine were purchased for a total of $ 360, representing 33 % of the total amount of the invoice.

Photo TVA Nouvelles

“The people who were there have taken can be the right decision, according to the policies as there was in the time. It should not be the blame not any more there,” said the president of the school Board, Liz S. Won.

Ms. Gagné, who was not in a position at this time, refuses to condemn the elect, and the managers are made to pay for alcohol by the school board, under the pretext that the policy was not clear at this time.

These same elected officials had been criticized, last week, the director-general Chantale Cyr to be reimbursed for alcohol on two bills in 2016.

Policy of “zero alcohol”

President Liz S. Gagné argues that alcohol is no longer tolerated on the school board since last fall.

“The new policy, since the 23 September 2017, says it is “zero alcohol”. […] Drink, now, this is a no-go. And it is correct, the public does not have to pay for it. It is not understood and it has changed the policy”, said Ms Won.

According to it, a directive is very strict and would have been given to the staff who checks and authorizes the allocations of expenditure.

Audits of VAT News has learned that nearly fifty to credit cards in the name of the school board are outstanding. All of the directors of service as well as all the principals are holders. This would not be common practice in other school boards.