If I were Sophie Brochu

The CEO of Hydro-Québec must end the granting of L’effet A training contracts awarded to her spouse John Gallagher’s company.

My colleagues Frances Hallin, Mary Christine Trottier and Charles Matthew reported yesterday that Mr. Hydro-Québec has purchased L’effet A contracts for $250,000 since the appointment in April 2020.^me Brochu at the head of the state institution.

Hydro-Québec “did not intervene in any way to promote the influence of Sophie Brochu, these decisions were never her responsibility”, which smacks of the appearance of a conflict of interest, no offense to Hydro’s Bonges.

In its defense, Hydro-Québec adds that the company “registers participants in L’effet A since 2016, when Eric Martel was CEO.”

Mr. Awarding 87 contracts to L’effet A during the 5 years of Martel’s tenure, Mr.^me Brochu in office for 2 1⁄2 years?

The context is completely different. Eric Martel has nothing to do with L’Effect A du Spouse de Sophie Brochu. This is clearly not the case with Hydro CEO.

Brochu, leader in influence A

To show you the extent to which Hydro-Québec and its CEO have painted themselves, Ms. Here is the link between Brochu and L’effet A, reported under the “governance” hat on the state corporation’s site. Members of the Board of Directors and Senior Management were introduced.

After creating an extensive curriculum vitae of M^me Brochu, Hydro-Québec takes the liberty of praising the relationship between its CEO and her spouse’s company: “In addition, she acts as the leader of L’effet A, which aims to promote the presence of women. Organizations of all levels.”

There’s no doubting this claim that she’s a “leader of impact”: Hydro’s CEO has also completed a “30-day masterclass with Sophie Brochu” training course, which has so far brought in nearly $50,000 for her spouse’s company.

Hydro gets its “masterclass”.

Moreover, my colleagues Hallin, Trottier and Matthew reported yesterday that Mr.^me Brochu himself bought “animated” training courses for Hydro. Not less.

In fact, seven Hydro-Québec employees took a “30-day masterclass with Sophie Brochu” in 2021, offered by L’effet A, for a total bill of $4,595.

Let’s admit that Hydro is pushing the envelope a little too far with L’effet A’s “30-Day Masterclass with Sophie Brochu”!

But… there’s nothing for Hydro there. “The governance and ethical rules of our organization are solid, whether it is L’effet A or others, it is not true that we are going to deprive women of relevant training for their professional development”.

Vice-presidencies

Participant-managers who took the “100-Day Challenge, The A Effect” training course from the organization of Smt.^me Booklet, come from

Various Vice Presidents and other administrative departments of Hydro.

The cost per participant is typically $2250.

The disciplines most “attracted” by Effect A are: Information and Communications Technologies, Human Resources, Risk Management, Planning/Strategies/Expertise, Communications/Government and Aboriginal Affairs.

And as for Hydro-Québec’s other administrative units, the participants came from the “Corporate Affairs, Legal and Governance” group; Hydro-Québec Distribution and Shared Services, Hydro-Québec Transenergie, Hydro-Québec Innovation Production, Hydro-Québec Production.

Code of ethics

Under Article 5.4.2 “Conflict of interest – unfavorable interests” of the Code of Ethics and Professional Deontology for Hydro-Québec Directors and Officers, a director or officer “must not find himself or herself. benefit directly or indirectly from a situation or transaction involving the company”.

As “Leader of Effect A”, Sophie Brochu must demand that Hydro-Québec stop the training provided by her spouse’s company.

Last point.