Sue Montgomery isn't backing down as Montreal asks province to intervene in harassment case

The City of Montreal is asking the provincial body that overseesmunicipalities,the Commission municipale du Qubec, to investigateSue Montgomery over her handling of a harassment case.

But the embattled borough mayor ofCte-des-NeigesNotre-Dame-de-GrceMayoris swinging back, accusing Montreal Mayor Valrie Plante of allowing the city's comptroller general tohidethe facts.

Montgomery waskicked out of the Plante administration's party, Projet Montral, on Jan. 24 for refusing to fireher chief of staff, Annalisa Harris, following an investigation by thecomptroller general intoallegations of psychological harassment.

On Friday, the City of Montreal issued a statement saying Montgomeryshould follow through on the comptroller general's recommendations, including that Harris should not have contact with employees at the borough office.

"The inaction of Ms. Montgomery is contributing to a difficult work climate which has consequences for the harmonious functioning of the borough," the statement said.

In response, Montgomery issued her ownstatement, sayingsheacted as soon as she was made aware of the allegations.

"I assigned a member of my team as the contact between my office and bureaucrats. The comptroller general has never asked me to fire my Chief of Staff," she said.

It was Plante herself who insisted Harris be fired, Montgomery said.

"Why is the Plante administration allowing the comptroller general to hide the facts?" Montgomery said. "I reiterate my request to Mayor Plante that she make the report public and redact confidential elements."

Montgomery saysher priority is that theborough of Cte-des-NeigesNDG continues to function well.

In September 2019, an investigation was launched into the workplace culture at the borough office and a confidential report was filed.

It concludedtwo employees had suffered psychological harassment at the borough office and recommended that Harris have no more contact with borough employees.

Montgomery has refused to fire Harris without due process, saying she wants to see the confidential report.

The borough mayor is named in the report for "turning a blind eye" to the alleged psychological harassment and therefore is not being allowed access to the report, the city has said.

Last week, Montgomery, a former Montreal Gazette journalist, said during the monthly borough council meeting thatPlanteknows the report is bogus.

In response, Plante accused herformerally of making "completely false and inaccurate statements" about her.

'For me, the story is over,' Plante says

Plante said on Friday that she excluded Montgomery fromProjet Montraltoensure a safe working environment for public employees. For those employees, Plante said, it is probably worrisomethat Montgomery will not adhere to the comptroller general's recommendations to ensure ahealthy workplace.

"I think Ms. Montgomery should have, since thebeginning, listened to the comptroller general," she told reporters Friday."That's what I expect from an elected official."

She said the issue is now between Montgomery and the municipal commission.

"I'm not part of this," Plantesaid.

"What I want is to have a borough that functions. Citizens are looking for leadership that is strong and respects public servants and [all] the people in the borough."

"That is all I'm interested in," she said.

"As a leader, I did what I had to do, and for me, the story is over. I am continuing. I have other things to do. I have a city to run."