Quebec orders outside investigation into governance of MMFA in wake of director's dismissal

Quebec Culture Minister Nathalie Roy has ordered an independent firm to look into how the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) is managed, following the abrupt firing of the museum's former director and chief curator, Nathalie Bondil.

Roy's office says shewill seekan outside firm to conduct the investigation.

Bondil's13-year tenure at the helm of the museum cameto an abrupt end Monday, with the MMFA's board of directors saying she had failed to address a toxic workplace environment.

Michel de la Chenelire, who chairsthe board, said an investigation prompted by harassment complaints last fall revealed serious problems that couldn'tbe ignored.

De laChenelire said he couldn't go into detail about the psychological harassment allegations because they areconfidential, but he said they were "very troubling." He said that Bondil and other senior employees were named in the allegations.

The Culture Ministry said in a statementthat Roy twice asked to see the report thatwas used as justification to fire Bondil, and she was refused access.

"As the largest funder of the museum, at a rate of $16 million per year, the government of Quebec considers itself entitled to ask questions and obtain answers on the management and governance of the museum and its board of directors," reads the release.

MMFA promises full co-operation

On Thursday afternoon, the MMFAput out a short statement in response to the ministry's move, promising to offer its "complete co-operation."

"We remain convinced that the decision to end the contract of Mme.Bondil was the right one," wrote de la Chenelire.

Bondil began working at the museum in 1999. In the years since she was named chief curator and director general in 2007, she hasbrought inhigh-profile exhibitionsand overseena significant expansion.

Pierre Bourgie sides with museum

On Thursday, well-known Montreal arts philanthropistPierre Bourgie wrote an open letter voicing his support for the MMFA boardof directors and itsdecision to fire Bondil.

Bourgie, whose family has been associatedwith the museum for the last 13 years, began by applauding Bondil for her talent and dynamism.

However, he said, in recent years, he has witnessed a "slow but steadydeterioration" of the workplace culture.

Bourgiesaid he'd witnessedqualified employees quit,and heard from staff who had confided in himabout "their frustrations, their anxieties, and sometimes even their anger."

"This crisis could have been avoided, but by moving it to the public sphere for her own personal reasons, Nathalie will doubtlessly weaken the museum," he said.

"I support fully the board of directors and its president who all took a thoughtful and courageous decision for the good of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts."

Bondil's side of story

In an interview with CBCMontreal's Daybreakon Tuesday, Bondil offered her own explanation for her sudden termination, saying thatshe believes her firing is connected to her questioning of a recent hiring decision by the board.

• Listen to the interview with Nathalie Bondil here

Earlier this month, Mary-Dailey Desmaraiswasnamed director of the curatorial division, a responsibility that used to fall to Bondil before the board created thisnew position.

Desmarais is part of the powerful Desmarais family, which is one of the museum's biggest donors.

BondilcontendsDesmarais wasn't the best candidate for the joband says the board fired her when she let them know she disagreed with the choice.

On Wednesday, the MMFAissued a statement in support of the hiring ofDesmarais, pushing back against "numerous comments, many of which are damaging to her reputation and that of the museum."

"We feel strongly that Mary-Dailey Desmarais's outstanding educational background a PhD in Art History from Yale University coupled with her experience as curator at the museum, will make her a valued and trustworthy director of the curatorial team," the statement said.