Report appears, questions abound

“Bis dat qui cito dat (He gives twice who gives quickly).” – Publius Syrus

While we may excuse the City of Clarence-Rockland’s ignorance of Latin, the fact that the proverb is lost on them when it comes to requests for information remains inexcusable. But at least they finally are learning to share it – even if takes several months.

At the end of April, the accounting firm BDO tabled a report on a study of what it costs Clarence-Rockland to be a member of the United Counties of Prescott-Russell. Journalists who had attended the meeting and obtained the highlights of the report requested copies of the document. The City, however, refused to release it. Now, two and a half months later, it has finally, but very quietly, posted the report on its website.

The City had explained it would release the report only once it had had a meeting with the administration of the United Counties regarding the findings. But what motive could it possibly have for withholding the report until then?

If it was to keep the facts secret to gain bargaining power, it had already lost that by allowing the media and the public to attend the presentation of the report. Besides, if the figures are correct, why hide them? Truth made public is always more powerful than truth concealed.

Had the City kept its intentions secret, on the other hand, it might have gained an edge. Generals do not ordinarily reveal their strategies to their opponents, but Clarence-Rockland’s director general, Daniel Gatien, in a fit of transparency, told Le Droit that the City was not serious about leaving the United Counties – it just wanted political leverage.

So after all this, why the fuss? What does the City have to hide? Is this the only way that Mayor Richard Lalonde feels he can flex what is left of his political muscle? If so, he does not seem to be impressing anyone.

Stéphane Parisien, CAO of the United Counties of Prescott-Russell, is cautious, but doubtful. He recalls that under provincial law municipalities must provide certain services to their residents but questions whether “Clarence-Rockland could start its own ambulance service.”

In May, Nation Township Mayor Denis Pommainville essentially called the study a red herring. No one else quite felt threatened either, with the possible exception of Russell Mayor Ken Hill, but even this was a progressive sentiment. In May, he commented that whatever the study showed, it was his duty to get his fair share for his residents. When contacted last week, however, he had been reduced to silence, despite having been warden of the United Counties, being Mayor of the second-highest contributing municipality of the Counties and being a politician.

Most, however, are not thus dumbfounded by the report. But if you think you might like to have a quick and casual glance at it, think again: the document consists of a dense Excel file, made up only of numbers and barely comprehensible labels, and four drab pages of hypotheses and comments. It’s enough to put even the most valiant accountant to sleep.

The main finding of the study – that Clarence-Rockland generally overpays for the services it receives from the United Counties – was known in April. What examining the report now reveals is the calibre of the study. Its only major problem, if one accepts its assumptions, is that it includes only three years: 2004-2006. Were a longer period analyzed, would overpayment still be consistent or might the long-term trend lead to overall equalization?

More important than the report itself, however, are the events surrounding its eventual release and Mayor Richard Lalonde’s management of the issue – or lack thereof. This is just one more incident that will help residents of Clarence-Rockland decide whether the current administration has enough credibility and competency to manage their city. With an election year just around the corner, they will soon make their decision resoundingly heard.

Published in the August 20, 2009 issue of the Musketeers' Journal.

© 2010 - William G. Stephenson