Montreal probes Outremont council's booze expenditures
Last Updated: Thursday, September 27, 2007 | 1:11 PM ET
CBC News
The city of Montreal is investigating Outremont's borough council after allegations it spent thousands of taxpayer dollars on scotch and other pricey booze.
Montreal has hired two firms — KPMG and Fasken Martineau — to probe the borough council's alcohol expenditures, which came to light after resident Claude Gladu produced alcohol receipts from the Quebec Liquor Board that he'd obtained through an access to information request.
According to media reports, the receipts reveal Outremont spent between $6,500 and $7,500 from January to June 2007, including more than $1,000 on 12-year old Glenfiddich Highland scotch single malt.
That would make the borough's alcohol budget the highest among all city boroughs, even though Outremont is the smallest and least populous on the island, according to Montreal newspaper La Presse.
The alcohol was allegedly consumed by Outremont's borough council and invited guests in a private lounge on the second floor of the council's headquarters.
Borough director Pierre Beaudet told the CBC's French language service that comparing Outremont's spending on booze with other municipalities is misleading because the others include the cost of alcohol in their catering budgets.
Outremont borough mayor Stéphane Harbour has not returned phone calls from CBCNews.ca.
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