Gatineau, October 8, 2014. – Gatineau has released the results of the administrative investigation report on the case of 79 chemin Fraser. This investigation was requested by the Chief Administrative Officer in order to review the events leading up to the issuance of the permit and all subsequent steps in order to shed light on the circumstances surrounding this case.

On June 12, 2014, Jean-François Tremblay, a professor with the department of industrial relations at the Université du Québec en Outaouais and certified industrial relations counselor (CRIA), was asked to conduct this review.

"The purpose of the report was to clearly establish the facts related to the issue, to assess the quality of the actions of the different players involved in the case, and to make recommendations on the appropriate steps to take to improve the decision-making process," indicated Mr. Tremblay.

"Gatineau is now in a position where it can act on the findings of the administrative investigation report, and will be putting everything in place to prepare an accompanying plan for the Service d'urbanisme et de développement durable," indicated Mayor Maxime Pedneaud-Jobin.

The highlights of the report are as follows:

• the investigation disclosed laxity in the decision-making process that is inconsistent with sound management in a municipal context;
• nonetheless, it appears that the problem related to the issuance of the permit stemmed from a human error made in good faith, in this situation the failure to apply section 116; and
• the investigation did not reveal any misappropriation, or any intentional breach of the laws and by-laws in force.

Section 116

Moreover, the case of 79 chemin Fraser brought to the administration to realize that section 116 had not been applied in other situations. Section 116 sets out the rules for inserting a new building between two existing building based on the average distance from the neighbouring buildings.

Further to the determination of non-compliance with section 116, the Service de l'urbanisme et du développement durable was mandated to review different possible scenarios in order to address the matter of non-application of section 116 throughout the territory, and to recommend a solution to the Comité consultatif d'urbanisme and the Municipal Council.

Moreover, Gatineau decided to apply disciplinary measures in regard to the three employees who were at fault. The decision was made to impose disciplinary suspensions ranging between 10 and 20 days without pay.


Facilitator and Action Plan for a Change of Approach

In the interest of developing an action plan aimed at bringing about a change of approach in the Service de l'urbanisme et du développement durable, Gatineau appointed Catherine Marchand who will serve as a facilitator from the position of assistant director.

Ms. Marchand is an economist, senior urban planner and seasoned manager of multidisciplinary teams, with more than 36 years' experience. She has accumulated extensive expertise in urban and regional planning, as well as in economic analysis, in both the public and private sectors. She has worked for the National Capital Commission, the City of Ottawa, Ville de Montréal, and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, to name just a few.

She has frontline experience with urban planning in Gatineau. She headed up Gatineau's service de l'Urbanisme et du Développement durable from October 2006 to June 2008.

The action plan will be unveiled by the end of October.

For additional information about the administrative investigation, visit www.gatineau.ca .