By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
The City of Sherbrooke’s Auditor General, Yves Denis, tabled his third annual report on Tuesday, highlighting continued improvements in municipal governance, increasing uptake of his office’s recommendations, and a strategic focus on climate risk.
The 2024 report includes the results of three performance audits, an update on 50 previously issued recommendations, and a renewed multi-year audit plan. One major addition this year is a strategic analysis on Hydro-Sherbrooke’s vulnerability to climate change, marking a shift toward more forward-looking, risk-based auditing.
“This report supports City Council in their goal to ensure rigorous, transparent, and continuously improving governance,” Denis wrote in the introduction of the report.
Three performance audits: from ombudsman to 311 platform
The audits reviewed the Bureau de l’ombudsman, municipal elected officials’ research and support expenses, and the City’s handling of citizen requests.
Denis said the audit of the ombudsman’s office was “generally positive,” but eight recommendations were made to improve visibility, documentation, and performance metrics. “We found good practices,” he told The Record in an interview. “But we also suggested improvements to ensure accessibility and more consistent processes.”
Regarding the expenses of municipal councillors, the audit revealed that some reimbursements did not meet eligibility criteria. Denis recommended clarifying local rules to ensure consistency and transparency. “There’s a need to make sure everybody understands the same thing about what’s allowed,” he said. “Some local expenses might actually be covered by the annual allocations councillors receive.”
A third audit examined the modernization of the city’s citizen request management system, currently under development. The project is expected to lead to a centralized 311 service. Denis took a proactive approach: “It was an opportunity to get involved ahead of time,” he said, “and encourage the administration to think about the risks and challenges that might emerge, instead of just criticizing afterwards.”
Four recommendations were made to structure and support the implementation of this system, informed by consultations with other municipalities that have adopted similar platforms.
