Inspector-General will have 'a lot of power' under Bill 1

Montreal's new inspector-general says he's confident the provincial government will amend legislation introduced yesterday to ensure he has the freedom he needsto take on corruption at City Hall.

The new legislation, called Bill 1, defines the powers of Montreals inspector-general to investigate cases of corruption, fraud and collusion in city contracts.

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Denis Gallant, who was named to the position in February, expressed concern yesterday with a provision in Bill 1that requires him to turn over investigations into criminal acts such as fraud and corruption to the provincial polices anti-corruption unit, UPAC.

Gallant is a lawyer and member of the Charbonneau Commission with a long history fighting organized crime.

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Thats not what I was hired for, and I dont want to do that, he told Mike Finnerty on CBC Radios Daybreak Friday morning.

Im going to work with UPAC, no problem, but UPAC is a police department and they have one goal and I have another goal, he said.

He said the provision is different from an earlier version of the bill that was tabled by the Parti Qubcois government last fall.

Gallants concern was echoed by Montreals Mayor Denis Coderre, who told CBC News that he was working with Quebecs municipal affairs minister Pierre Moreau to fix the problem.

Gallant said hes hopeful that the new legislation will be amended to give him the mandate he says he needs. If its not, he said he might have to reconsider accepting the job.

His hope was reinforced Friday by Robert Poti, Quebecs minister responsible for the Montreal region.

In an interview on Daybreak, Poti said Gallants concerns are details that will be worked out.

Its nothing major at all, he said.

Poti described the legislation as an anti-corruption firewall around Montreal and said Gallant is going to have the power to investigate that he needs.

Hes going to have a lot of power, he said.

Poti said the province and the City of Montreal are on the same page when it comes to the issue.

Altogether we are working for one cause only helping Montreal fight collusion and corruption, he said.