Montreal hospital denies it’s subject of investigation

An artist's rendering of JGH's yet-to-be-completed Pavilion K

After two days of silence, the Jewish General Hospital (JGH) issued a terse statement on Oct. 23 regarding reports that Quebec’s anti-corruption squad is investigating construction cost overruns related to the hospital’s expansion.

“In relation to some media reports which appeared [Oct. 22], the JGH states that it is not the subject of an investigation by police authorities. Rather, an investigation is currently underway into the activities of certain of the hospital’s former suppliers and contractors,” the unsigned statement reads.

“The JGH is aware of this investigation and is co-operating fully with the authorities.”

JGH officials were not answering any questions from the media on the matter.

Some media outlets, including the Gazette and La Presse, which cited police sources, reported that on Oct. 21 about 100 investigators from UPAC, the provincial anti-corruption unit, as well as Revenue Quebec and personnel from the Régie des des bâtiments, which regulates the construction industry, carried out eight search warrants in connection with a year-long investigation into construction at the JGH. 

The locations of the searches were not made known by UPAC.

The JGH has in the past denied that it has exceeded the budget for the yet-to-be-completed Pavilion K and has said that if that did occur, its foundation would make up the gap in government funding.

In April, there were media reports that UPAC was investigating allegedly fraudulent billing for a total of $50,000 in connection with the construction project.

At that time, the JGH said it was the one who brought the alleged irregularities to the attention of authorities as soon as they were brought to its attention in the fall of last year.

The person in charge of the construction project, Philippe Castiel, no longer works at the JGH.

UPAC (Unité permanente anticorruption) was created in 2011 by the provincial government to combat corruption and collusion