Chauffeur budget gets $200K bump under Denis Coderre

The chauffeur budget for the City of Montreal's mayor and executive committee is being bumped up by $200,000 to accommodate Denis Coderre'sbusy scheduleoutside of city hall.

Before the mayortook office in 2013, two drivers were sufficient to meetthe needs of the mayor and members of hisexecutive committee.

However, the mayor, who has become known for his numerous appearances at community events, has used theservice of drivers far more thanhis predecessors.

The city is hiring an extra driver, at a cost of $68,400 with benefits. It is also budgeting for $131,000 in overtime costs for the mayor and executive committee'schauffeur pool in 2016.

The post is an important one because the mayor often conducts business en route to his next destination, said Jacques Ulysse, the city's deputy general manager.

"He needs to trust the person who will be his driver," Ulyssesaid.

'Power is going to his head,' saysProjet Montral

Montreal's blue collar union has been critical of the city's plan to add a third driver, however, since it won't be a union position.

"Blue collar workers have always been involved in the mayor's transportation," said Normand Bergeron, the head of the union.

"There's never been a problem in 20 years."

According to the city, a request was made to make the job a unionized position, but it was refused because of the demanding schedule.

OppositionProjet Montral councillor Sylvain Ouelletsaid hefinds the $200,000 increased budget for the chauffeur pool unreasonable, "after having hired someone at $1,800 a day" areferenceto Coderre'srecentappointment of former deputy immigration minister Michel Dorais to coordinate the integration ofSyrian refugees in Montreal.

"Power is going to his head," said Ouellet.