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ARTICLE · 30 JANUARY 2014

More Criminal Charges In Connection With Infrastructure Projects In Quebec

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The Competition Bureau recently announced that criminal charges had been laid against a company and an individual for their alleged role in rigging bids for infrastructure projects in the Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu region in the Province of Québec.

CanadaAntitrust/Competition Law
Imran Ahmad
Imran Ahmad
Christopher Hersh
Christopher Hersh
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The Competition Bureau (the "Bureau") recently announced that criminal charges had been laid against a company and an individual for their alleged role in rigging bids for infrastructure projects in the Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu region in the Province of Québec. The alleged conduct took place between January 2008 and December 2009.

A joint investigation by the Québec's permanent anti-corruption squad (commonly known as the "UPAC") and the Bureau uncovered a complex bid-rigging scheme which ensured  preferential treatment for a group of contractors seeking to obtain municipal contracts for infrastructure projects.

Under the Competition Act, bid-rigging is per se illegal, meaning there is no need to demonstrate an anti-competitive effect to obtain a conviction. Bid-rigging occurs when two or more persons agree that, in response to a tender, one or more of them will: (i) not submit a bid; (ii) withdraw a bid; or (iii) submit a bid arrived at by agreement. The penalty

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