Internal conflict at CARE Montreal | A police complaint was filed

CARE Montreal’s outgoing president filed a police report PresThe home and the organization’s founder condemn the use of public funds meant for the homeless to clean the boat — among other things.

The latter argue that these are billing errors.

Catherine Roy-Goet resigned as chair of CARE Montreal’s board of directors in mid-December. Bursted by the pandemic, the organization receives tens of millions a year in public funding to provide shelter to 250 homeless people every night.

M^me Roy-Goyette confirmed this week Pres Just before Christmas, the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) was supposed to file a complaint so that “competent officers can fully assess the situation and the steps to be taken.”

“All relevant documents have been filed with the SPVM,” he said in a telephone interview.

The former president said the cleaning company used by CARE Montreal gave police documents showing it invoiced the company for work it did at founder Michel Monet’s home, his son’s home and on his boat in mid-2022. .

Mr. Monette was then executive director of CARE Montreal. He left office in August 2022, but his council still controls the body.

Police also obtained a copy of the car rental invoice paid by CARE Montreal, but Mr. Used by Monette for personal purposes.

By resigning, Mr.^me Roy-Goyette noted “worrying irregularities” in the administration of care. An accounting report shows hundreds of thousands of dollars in expenses directly or indirectly benefiting members of the board of directors.

“I’m not going to Scrap My Reputation for $5000″

Michel Monette, who created CARE Montreal in 2017 with members of his Mennonite church, denies allegations of financial fraud.

On December 16, in an interview Pres, had commented on the allegation related to the housekeeping industry. “It’s big stupidity, it’s big stupidity. I’ve been in the business since I was 15 and I have other businesses besides CARE Montreal,” he said. “I’m not going to Scrap My reputation billing error for $5,000. »

Mr. Monet said he reported the error to his wife and plans to notify CARE Montreal when he gets his hands on the problematic bill board. It was used to justify his sacking last August, when he said: “I was thrown away like an old sock. »

This week, Mr. Monet’s lawyer answered questions on his behalf Pres. He reiterated that Mr Monette was willing to pay back after receiving a request for “billing errors” or – in the case of home care – figures.

As for the outgoing president and the whistleblower, “we wonder about his good faith” because there was a delay between the moment he learned of the invoice and his complaint to the police, Ms.^e Pierre-Paul Portages. “These are the steps to send a formal notice to him. »

“Great Inconvenience”

Catherine Roy-Goyette’s complaint to police is the latest episode in a crisis that has rocked CARE Montreal for weeks. The organization was subject to a power struggle between the Church that founded it and its dissolution supporters within CAP St-Barnabé – another charity based in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve.

With plans varying over time, the two organizations planned their merger for months. In mid-December 2022, a general meeting of CARE Montreal members examined the possibility of liquidating the organization and transferring its assets to CAP St-Barnabé. Majority of the members agreed, but Mr. Monette’s Church – which holds the veto – refused.

In the following days, Mr.^me Roy-Goyette resigned from his position and the organization’s managers collectively expressed their “great discomfort” with the interference of a religious group in the affairs of a community organization. The employees also engaged in collective bargaining and demonstrated.

After a few years of operating a small heat drop-in center in a church, CARE Montreal grew rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic and in two years, has become a major player in the fight against homelessness in Montreal.