This article written in french by Stéphane St-Amour was automatically translated using ChatGPT
After Paolo Galati and his four colleagues elected under the Action Laval banner, it is now Alexandre Warnet of the Mouvement lavallois – Équipe Stéphane Boyer who is targeted by an investigation from the Quebec Municipal Commission (CMQ) regarding expenses deemed unjustified that the City reimbursed to municipal councilors.
The issue at hand is a reimbursement of $5,800 that Mr. Warnet received last year for life coaching training, as revealed by TVA Nouvelles on Friday.
It should be noted that Alexandre Warnet serves as a “professional and personal development coach” within a consulting firm for career and business coaching, where he is also vice-president and co-owner.
Minister Reacts
“I have been informed about the situation concerning the expenses of another elected official in Laval,” said the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Andrée Laforest, in a text sent last night by her press attaché. “There appear to be certain abuses, which is why the investigation by the Quebec Municipal Commission will be extended to the expenses of Alexandre Warnet and all concerned municipal councilors, regardless of party.”
The minister emphasizes that “the regulations are clear: an elected official cannot use municipal resources for personal purposes, and even less so have their personal expenses paid for by taxpayers,” specifying that “ethics and sound management of public finances are a priority for [the] government.”
Mayor Calls for Reimbursement
The mayor, Boyer, shares a similar sentiment: “Ethics rules apply to everyone, without exception. Research and support expenses must serve only for official functions.”
In a text message this Sunday, the mayor explained that the City had authorized “a partial reimbursement” to Alexandre Warnet for 75% of an invoice of $7,760.
“We’re not talking about food or furniture here, but given the private professional functions of the councilor after obtaining his training, it was requested that a full reimbursement be made,” he wrote, referencing the grocery and sofa-bed expenses that Paolo Galati had reimbursed through his research budget, the disclosure of which on Wednesday led to the initiation of an investigation by the CMQ.
Elected for the first time in November 2021, Alexandre Warnet is a councilor for Laval-des-Rapides and an associate member of the executive committee of the City of Laval, responsible for issues related to ecological transition, citizen participation, and relations with the LGBTQ+ community.
Just as it was for Paolo Galati last Wednesday, our request for an interview with Mr. Warnet was declined.
Regulation Under Review
Mayor Boyer concluded by stating that he has “asked the City’s general director to review the regulation, based on Quebec law, to clarify the interpretation,” asserting that the problem “is not only in Laval” and that there is “clearly room for improvement.”
In this regard, Minister Andrée Laforest highlighted that “the CMQ will also be able to make recommendations to the City of Laval regarding changes that could be made to their regulations.”
As for the interim leader of the Parti Laval and councilor for Fabreville, Claude Larochelle, he welcomes the decision to extend the ongoing investigation to the expenses reimbursed to Alexandre Warnet. “We must give taxpayers the full truth and shed light on this unacceptable use of public funds. The actions of a few individuals tarnish all elected officials. We will await the report from the Municipal Commission with great anticipation,” he stated via email on Sunday afternoon.
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