The Quebec Municipal Commission imposes a financial penalty of $4,000, the maximum amount provided for by law, on the mayor of Plessisville, Pierre Fortier, for a contract awarded to the microbrewery of which he is the main shareholder.
At town hall since 2021, Pierre Fortier also owns agricultural businesses in addition to being co-owner of the Jackalhop microbrewery. He is considered a “passive investor” there, acting as a mentor without being involved in day-to-day administration.
As it is the only one on the territory of the Municipality, the microbrewery was chosen to brew the official beer of the Plaisirs d’été 2023 event, the biggest event of the year in Plessisville.
Before the Quebec Municipal Commission, Pierre Fortier argued that if a contract was concluded, it was done without his knowledge and specified that the City was not invoiced for the sale of the beer.
Passive
According to the facts retained by the administrative court, this agreement was the initiative of an official responsible for the City’s influence and it was during a press conference, on June 15, 2023, that Mr. Fortier learned of the existence of the partnership.
However, from that moment on, he “could not ignore the situation”, writes the administrative judge in a recent decision.
The magistrate criticizes him for having “simply remained passive by not taking any action to find out the details of this agreement and to remedy this situation which placed him in contravention” of his code of ethics.
The court found a breach against the elected official for having had an indirect interest in a contract with the City, while clearing him of two other offenses.
“Severe” regulations
In interview with The newspaperPierre Fortier recognizes that he “should have been more vigilant” and says he is still considering the possibility of appealing.
“I am not in the daily management of the microbrewery and I am not in the daily management of events in the city either,” he explains.
Furthermore, he deplores that the regulatory framework is “excessively severe” and “very difficult to apply” in the regions.
“This regulation must be adapted to the regions. It is discriminatory for the entire class of business people,” he believes.
The law notably prohibits elected officials from knowingly having a direct or indirect interest in a contract with the municipality.
Remember that Pierre Fortier shares the title of mayor with Jean-François Labbé since the regrouping of Plessisville with the parish of the same name at the start of the year. Mr. Labbé is not affected by the decision of the Quebec Municipal Commission.
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