“Copy and paste” of toxic atmosphere in Sainte-Pétronille, Val-des-Lacs

Former employees of Val-des-Lacs describe a “reign of terror” imposed by former director-general Nathalie Paquet. It was the subject of a request for inquiry from the citizens of Sainte-PétronilleOn Orleans Island, he now conducts the same operations.

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“It is not complicated, almost all employees have resigned [à cause d’elle]», says Marie*, a person familiar with the working environment established in the municipality of Laurentides, M.^me Paquette served as general manager from September 2020 to April 2022.

Mary requested anonymity to avoid legal trouble from the former general director of what she says was a “reign of terror” then prevalent in Val-des-Lacs.

“It only works through formal notifications,” he says. “At one point, I think he was dealing with three different companies. […] It was his Method of action.”

Newspaper Nathalie Baggett spoke with former Val-des-Lacs employees and elected officials to understand the reasons behind the layoffs.

Citizens of Sainte-Pétronille, where he now holds the same functions, received a letter of dismissal under the law on access to documents, most of its paragraphs redacted. However, mention is made of “serious failures”.

Newspaper Nathalie tried to contact Paquette to get her version of the facts, without success.

Condolences to Saint-Pétronille

Mary recalls that the public administration and the mayor proposed at the time to build a new fire station because they felt the current one was “not good enough.”

“Citizens have made requests for access to information to get analytical reports,” he says. “Everything the citizens were told was a lie.”

Alice* experienced “a very difficult working climate” at Val-des-Lacs. She also requested anonymity for the same reasons. “She takes formal notice for granted,” he explains.

Bans on employees talking to each other, taking paid time off, signing “loyalty agreements” with the municipality… the list of restrictions imposed was long.

“She already watched me on the security cameras to make sure I wasn't talking to citizens coming to the municipal office,” says Alice.

“They sent me articles about what was happening in Saint-Pétronille and I said to myself: Oh my God, this is a copy and paste from Val-des-Lacs!”, he adds.

“I can't believe that someone is taking the same position and doing the same things again, thinking it will work this time,” admits Pierre*, a former high-ranking employee of the Laurentides municipality. He resigned for “breach of trust” in elected officials and public administration.

“She stirred so much pudding when she was there, we didn't know what was real and what was fake,” he explains. “All the staff were horrified by it.”

Pierre estimates that at least 22 resignations at Val-des-Lacs are attributed to a toxic work environment.

“As for Sainte-Pétronille, I can only tell them to keep going, that's the only right thing,” he concludes.

* Fictitious first names to protect speakers' identity