Socit du Parc Jean-Drapeau to be restructured

Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre says there will be major changes for the Socit du Parc Jean-Drapeau the group that runs Parc Jean-Drapeau.

The move comes about one month after a scathing report was released by the city's Inspector-General Denis Gallant, in which he found "serious irregularities" in the way contracts were awarded.

• Daniel Blier steps down from Socit du Parc Jean-Drapeau after report
• Montreal corruption watchdog finds 'serious irregularities' in Parc Jean-Drapeau contracts

Socit du Parc Jean-Drapeau was awarding contracts for projects to improve Parc Jean-Drapeau in time for Montreal's 375th anniversary celebration in 2017, including building a central plaza, an outdoor amphitheatre and a boardwalk.

In March, the inspector-general released a report that found Socit du Parc Jean-Drapeau the publicly funded body that runs the park ignored or incorrectly applied rules for awarding several contracts over the last two years.

The report also stated that so far, more than $2 million was spent on the project, but it was difficult to determine precisely what that money has paid for because monthly invoices were vague.

The executive director of Socit du Parc Jean-Drapeau, Daniel Blier, resigned following the report.

Since then, a commission of elected officials recommended that the Socit be placed under trusteeship.

However, Coderre said he doesn't have the power to do that.

Instead, someone will be appointed interim manager, until a new head is elected.

"I don't have time for now to have a structural debate -- no time for philosophy. I really believe that if we have pragmatic way and if we have some guidelines and checks and balances to make sure that at the end of the day we will be there to protect Montrealers and taxpayer money, we will go for it," Coderre said.

Coderre said he would like the projects to continue, adding that once the city's 375th anniversary is over, he may look at permanent structural changes to the way Socit du Parc Jean-Drapeau is run.