Laval councillors cleared of wrongdoing in public funds probe, city to revise expense rules [Video]

After finalising an investigation into the alleged improper use of public funds by elected officials in the City of Laval, Quebec’s municipal oversight commission (CMQ) says the vast majority of personal expenses claimed comply with the law and regulations in place.

The CMQ’s findings, presented in a report released on Monday, concluded that there was no wrongdoing. However, the report highlights that the city’s current regulations provide council members “too much discretion in assessing whether expenses are admissible or not.”

The report includes recommendations for revising the regulations concerning reimbursement from the research and support expenses fund, suggesting more precise guidelines for categories of admissible expenses, particularly for computer supplies and meeting expenses.

The City of Laval has an annual budget of approximately $1,100,000 for research and support costs for council members.

Last fall, two Laval city councillors, Paolo Galati of the opposition party Action Laval and Alexandre Warnet from …