Work climate: the minister Coiteux demand accounts at UPAC

Photo Simon Clark
The minister of public Safety, Martin Coiteux

Patrick Bellerose

Tuesday, 5 December 2017 13:23

UPDATE
Tuesday, 5 December 2017 18:52

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The minister of public Safety application to the commissioner of the Unité permanente anti-corruption report on the work climate within the organization, deemed execrable by several employees.

• READ ALSO: Climate of employment: décaviardé, the report of the UPAC is devastating

“I asked the commissioner of UPAC [Robert Lafrenière] of me to report by 19 January, both on what has already been done and that the commissioner intends to do,” said Martin Coiteux. He added that the document will be made public.

The Bureau of investigation of the Newspaper reported Tuesday morning the details of a report from the human resources Branch of the department of public Safety, referring to tensions and a lack of leadership within the audit department of the UPAC.

This division was headed until recently by Marcel Forget, who resigned last week due to revelations about his involvement in the sale of shares of a company controversial.

Two reports

A few minutes before the exit of the minister, the Parti québécois has asked that the report of the department of public Safety is handed over to the elected officials. The PQ also sought to obtain the notes of an employee of the Sûreté du Québec, Karine Martel, on complaints relating to the investigation department of the UPAC, which reports to the director of operations, Andre Baker. Minister Martin Coiteux has denied the request.

The parliamentary leader of the PQ believes that it is essential information in the study of bill 107, which seeks to grant more autonomy to the UPAC. “Because, before handing over more powers to the UPAC as a body of independent police, we need to know what is happening now, said Pascal Bérubé. And I wonder to know why they wanted to deprive us of such important information.”

Trust

The minister Coiteux itself has shown to be evasive when the parliamentary press asked him if he has seen the report prior to its publication by The Newspaper. “This was not a report that belonged to the ministry of public Security, it is a report that has been requested by the commissioner”, he said.

For his part, the prime minister Philippe Couillard said wait also answers, to the commissioner of UPAC. “Mr. Coiteux reiterated his confidence in him now: if mr. Coiteux trust him, I trust him, he commented. But, he has asked, in writing, a clarification and a response, and I expect that mr. Lafrenière.”