Company fined $140,000 for rigging bids in Montreal

OTTAWA, June 20, 2017 /CNW/ - A company specializing in the installation of ventilation systems pleaded guilty today to one count of bid-rigging related to the Tour St-Antoine condominium development project in Montreal. The company, 9201-2640 Québec Inc., will pay a $140,000 fine and will cooperate with the Competition Bureau as court proceedings move forward against others accused in the case. 

The company admitted in Quebec Superior Court that it conspired with two competing firms, Les Entreprises Promécanic ltée and Les Industries Garanties ltée, to obtain a ventilation contract by ensuring it offered the lowest bid.

Fines totalling $705,000 have been imposed by the courts following a Competition Bureau investigation that uncovered a bid-rigging scheme for ventilation contracts in a series of condominium developments in the Montreal area. To date, two other companies, Les Entreprises Promécanic ltée and Climasol Inc., and one individual, Roch Raby, President of Climasol Inc., pleaded guilty for their participation in the bid-rigging scheme.

Quick Facts

• Bid-rigging is a serious criminal offence that harms all Canadians by reducing competition. Consumers and companies have the right to expect a competitive market that encourages continuous innovation, greater efficiency, lower prices and high-quality products and services.
• The charges against François Lemay, President of 9201-2640 Québec Inc., were withdrawn in exchange for his full cooperation, including the sharing of any information that could assist the Competition Bureau's investigation.
• The trial of the other accused, Lys Air Mécanic Inc. and its Vice-President France Sergerie, and Les Industries Garanties ltée and its estimator, Houmam Nashar, is scheduled for October 2017.

Quote

"Today, given the weight of the evidence against it, a third company admitted to colluding with competitors in the construction industry and pleaded guilty to bid-rigging. These pre-trial resolutions help secure testimony that reinforces the evidence against the other accused, and allow the Bureau to settle cases in a quick, effective and cost-efficient way that benefits all Canadians."

Matthew Boswell,
Senior Deputy Commissioner of Competition

Related Products

• Bid-Rigging – pamphlet for consumers and companies
• Bid-rigging, detecting, preventing and reporting
• Videos on cartels
• Videos on bid-rigging

Associated Links

• Charges laid in residential construction bid-rigging scheme in Montreal
• Les Entreprises Promécanic Ltée plead guilty
• Les Entreprises de ventilation Climasol Inc. and its President, Roch Raby, plead guilty

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SOURCE Competition Bureau

For further information: For the media: Media Relations, Telephone: 819-994-5945, Email: ic.media-cb-bc.ic@canada.ca; General Information: Information Centre, Competition Bureau, 819-997-4282, Toll free: 1-800-348-5358, ATS (hearing impaired): 1-866-694-8389

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