The Quebec Superior Court has ordered engineering firm Genivar
(now WSP Canada) to pay a $4 million fine for its
involvement between 2002 and 2011 in a bid-rigging scheme that
targeted infrastructure contracts in Quebec City, Laval, Gatineau,
and municipalities around Montreal. The penalty recognized that WSP
Canada had previously reimbursed to the Quebec government money
under a voluntary reimbursement program.
The Competition Bureau’s investigation into this
bid-rigging scheme resulted in a settlement with another
engineering firm of $1.9 million and to charges against four
individuals, one of whom pleaded guilty and received a one-year
conditional sentence.
Bid-rigging is a serious crime
in Canada that eliminates competition among suppliers and
ultimately increases costs to the public. Bid rigging occurs when,
in response to a call for bids or tenders, companies or individuals
agree that one or more of them will not submit a bid,
withdraw a bid, or submit a bid
