The Société du parc Jean-Drapeau welcomes the auditor general's recommendations

MONTREAL, May 28, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - The Société du parc Jean-Drapeau (SPJD) welcomes the recommendations made by Ville de Montréal Auditor General Jacques Bergeron, whose annual report was tabled on Monday. The report contains 33 recommendations in conjunction with the SPJD's awarding and managing of contracts, notably the restoration of the Hélène-de-Champlain heritage building. Parc Jean-Drapeau's new management has, in fact, already developed and submitted an action plan to the auditor general to ensure the contract awarding and management process is compliant as quickly as possible. Almost half of all the recommendations in this regard have already been implemented.

"As a new administration, we have fully collaborated in the auditing operation and we have already begun implementing the 33 recommendations set down in the report," stated Société du parc Jean-Drapeau Executive Director Daniel Blier. "And I would like to underscore there were no improprieties or cost overruns in the Hélène-de-Champlain project or in any other contract managed by Parc Jean-Drapeau. I should add the examination by the auditor general focused on 10 contracts exceeding $100,000 which the SPJD awarded in 2010, 2011 and the first four months of 2012, and five of these contracts were related to the Hélène-de-Champlain building. The SPJD awarded 39 contracts exceeding $100,000 during this time period, and none of these contracts had a cost overrun. Even so, we are putting in every necessary control measure in an effort to attain a 100% success rate."

In its aim to improve its business procedures, the SPJD's new management team has already identified and implemented specific measures that include:

• Outsourcing professional services in major project management;
• Adding an internal resource in strategic planning and organizational performance;
• Refocusing the activities and responsibilities of the Buildings and Projects Management department;
• Strengthening the coordination of every project with the Ville de Montréal finance service;
• Improving accountability in contract awarding and management with the SPJD's Board of Directors, Executive Management of the Ville de Montréal and Ville-Marie Borough Management.

Following Ville de Montréal Executive Committee approval on December 12, 2012, renovation work on the Hélène-de-Champlain building has resumed since last February and a public call for proposals will be issued by June 1, 2013 to find a new operator. Hélène-de-Champlain is not just a prestigious heritage building, its enhancement will also enable visitors to discover an outstanding place in Montréal within a tourist destination of international calibre.

The Société du parc Jean-Drapeau's mission is to manage, administrate, develop, protect and animate Parc Jean-Drapeau. For full details on the Parc's activities, please go to parcjeandrapeau.com.

SOURCE: SOCIETE DU PARC JEAN-DRAPEAU

François Cartier
Société du parc Jean-Drapeau
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