Sévigny, Pouliot under fire after ethics complaints

Renouveau Sherbrookois Mayoral candidate Bernard Sévigny and veteran Ascot councillor Robert Pouliot are both under fire from opponents after ethical questions have been raised.

Independent Sherbrooke mayoral candidate Steve Lussier is calling on incumbent Mayor Bernard Sévigny to withdraw his candidacy for mayor, citing a complaint filed by Councillor Jean-françois Rouleau with the Commission municipale du Québec.

"Under the circumstances, I request the immediate withdrawal of his candidacy for Mayor of Sherbrooke by Mr. Bernard Sévigny," Lussier wrote in a public statement.

The complaint by Rousseau alleges that the mayor broke the project management rules laid out by the city and the Code of Ethics for elected officials when handing out a contract for the Well Inc. project without calling for tenders.

"Today, I do not like what I just learned.” Lussier said, “My request for a moratorium on [Well Inc.] is now justified. I was concerned about the lack of transparency in this file, the lack of a business plan. and the unusual way in which the contracts were set up. I was right and I stood up despite the doubts of some people."

Lussier points out that a part of his platform calls for an in depth review of the Well Inc. file and that he will bring "the necessary corrective measures so that this project does not become a white elephant for citizens" and that he will support "the renovation of the Wellington St. South sector, respecting Sherbrooke citizens’ capacity to pay.

In the meantime, Renouveau Sherbrookois councillor Robert Pouliot is also facing complaints at the Commission municipale du Québec filed by mayoral candidate Denis Pellerin who in September, raised the fact that the veteran Ascot's representative did not fully disclose his financial interest when it comes to Well Inc.'s records or the contracts awarded to the business owned by his sons. Pellerin had previously raised these concerns about Pouliot's ethics at the September 5 city council meeting.

In his complaint, Pellerin brought up printing contracts awarded to Bob Pouliot Office Equipment (2002) in 2011. He also conducts the census of resolutions concerning Well inc. since 2016.

"I filed my complaint before I became a candidate,” Pellerin says. “It's very \Renouveau’ not to declare his interest. I had noticed that Mr. Pouliot did not always declare his interest in the file of printers supplied to the City by his sons' company. With Well Inc., it was too much. He should have declared his interest, not because of the company, but because of the building he owns [and from which he could benefit from the revitalization of Wellington Street South]."

Pellerin says he isn’t counting on any sanctions against Pouliot, saying. "I don’t expect much, because I don’t think the decision will come out before the elections."

In September, Municipal Clerk Isabelle Sauvé indicated that the interpretation of the law had been verified and that. Pouliot was not in a conflict of interest and Pouliot said he had no interest in his sons' business.”

Pellerin also complained to the Chief Electoral Officer following a Facebook publication sponsored by the Sherbrooke Transportation Corporation (STS), which he said was promoting candidate Bruno Vachon, who is also president of the STS.