City auditor flags weak oversight of officials' expenses; half of hotel and meal costs exceed federal rates
Montreal's auditor general found significant shortcomings in how the city monitors spending by municipal officials, with reimbursements often exceeding federal guidelines.
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Montreal's auditor general has flagged significant shortcomings in how City Hall monitors the expenses of public officials, finding that more than half of hotel and meal costs exceed federal rates and some business-class flight upgrades were reimbursed without documentation.
In her 2025 audit report, Auditor General Andrée Cossette recommended tightening control measures around official expenses, noting that the city lacks formal guidelines for meal and lodging reimbursements. The absence of clear rules has created inconsistency across departments and boroughs.
"Practices regarding the reimbursement of meal and lodging expenses, combined with instances where allowances and reference rates are exceeded, illustrate the effects of the lack of formal guidelines and raise issues of consistency, uniformity, and justification in the processing of expenses," the report stated.
While air travel generally complied with rules, several business-class upgrades and booking expenses were approved and reimbursed without proper documentation, the audit found.
Cossette also flagged potential conflicts of interest in the approval process. The hierarchical relationship between borough administrations and elected councils could compromise the perceived impartiality of reviews, she warned.
The audit comes three years after a 2023 scandal involving former executive committee president Dominique Ollivier, who faced criticism for excessive spending when she led the Office of public consultation (OCPM), including a $350 oyster dinner. Ollivier stepped down following the controversy.
The city has not yet released formal expense guidelines addressing the auditor's findings.
What formal expense guidelines is City Hall developing in response to the auditor's recommendations?
How many city officials exceeded federal rates in 2025, and what was the total dollar amount involved?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
What did Montreal's auditor general find about hotel and meal costs?
More than half of hotel and meal costs reimbursed by the city exceeded federal rates, according to Auditor General Andrée Cossette's 2025 audit report.
Why does Montreal lack consistent expense rules?
Montreal has no formal guidelines for meal and lodging reimbursements, which has created inconsistency across departments and boroughs.
What problem did the auditor identify with flight reimbursements?
Several business-class flight upgrades and booking expenses were approved and reimbursed without proper documentation.
What concern did the auditor raise about the approval process?
Auditor General Andrée Cossette flagged potential conflicts of interest, warning that the hierarchical relationship between borough administrations and elected councils could compromise the impartiality of expense reviews.
