Two journalists from our investigative office received an award

The work of our investigative office to uncover the expenses of former leaders of Montreal's Office of Public Counsel (OCPM) was rewarded with a journalism award on Wednesday night.

Journalists Annabelle Blais and Dominique Cambron-Goulet received the program's Investigative Award of the Year in the mediaIn Télé-Québec.

“Bravo for excelling in your work,” host Marie-Louise Arsenault said during the Wednesday evening broadcast.

Guests on the group in the mediaAnnabelle Blais and Dominique Cambron-Goulet recount the genesis of their investigation.

They also explained how Montreal's difficult financial context made their work even more important.

In their reports published in November 2023, they revealed a series of lavish expenditures made with public funds by former OCMP President Dominique Olivier, former Secretary General Luc Duray, as well as their successors, Isabelle Beaulieu and Guy Grenier.

In particular, they showed that M^I Olivier spent $17,793 in public funds on restaurants between 2016 and 2019. One of those meals was a $347 oyster dinner in Paris in 2016.

For his part, M. said:^I Beaulieu privately purchased $900 worth of headphones with Montrealers' money.

Our journalists also unveiled the numerous and expensive international trips undertaken by OCPM leaders.

Resignation and dismissal

Following these reports, Dominique Olivier resigned from her position as president of the Executive Committee of the City of Montreal, and Guy Grenier and Isabelle Beaulieu were fired.

The city auditor general also opened an investigation. The Legault government also amended the charters of the city of Montreal and the city of Longueuil to prevent similar situations from recurring.

The City of Montreal also announced a complete review of its employee spending approval policy.

Among other awards presented by the exhibition in the mediaQuebec's Minister of Culture and Communications Mathieu Lacombe was named “Media Personality of the Year.”