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In a statement Friday, Montgomery said she was “very disappointed” the party had removed her.

“I was democratically elected and will continue to work hard to serve the people of CDN-NDG,” she said. “I will stay as mayor. But they have kicked me out of the party.”

Montgomery said neither she nor Plante has seen the comptroller general’s report. She said she was being asked to fire someone without having seen the evidence.

“I would be the last person to condone harassment. I will also not condone lack of due process,” Montgomery said. “We live in a democracy where people have a right to see evidence against them and to defend themselves. This has not happened and I cannot accept it. It would be irresponsible for me, or any employer, to fire someone without seeing evidence and giving that employee a chance to correct any unacceptable behaviour, if any existed.”

Montgomery can stay on as mayor but would sit removed from her party in city council and will no longer take part in party sessions. Her departure leaves Projet Montréal with 35 seats on the 65-seat city council.

In a tweet, Montgomery countered the mayor’s office’s version of events, saying she was the one to call for an investigation “because it was brought to my attention there were morale problems among city employees.”