BPR Ordered To Pay $485,000 In Municipal Bid Rigging Scandal

Quebec has a long and complicated history of bid rigging and corruption in tendering and government contracts. This dark chapter in the province’s history came to a head recently when BP was ordered to pay a hefty settlement as part of a case filed with the Superior Court of Québec between the Public Prosecution Service of Canada and BPR.

The settlement brings an end to the Competition Bureau’s investigation of BP’s role in a bid-rigging scheme that targeted municipal infrastructure contracts in Québec City and Montreal between 2002 and 2011. It is the seventh settlement resulting from the Bureau’s ongoing investigation into the matter, which has shaken the province’s political and economic institutions to their core.

The investigation has revealed that BP and six other engineering firms were involved in a scheme to artificially inflate the prices of government contracts, thereby cheating taxpayers out of millions of dollars. The companies colluded to ensure they were the only bidders on certain projects, effectively eliminating competition and allowing them to set their own prices.

This bid-rigging scheme was particularly insidious because it targeted vital infrastructure projects that were essential to the functioning of Quebec’s major cities. These projects included roadways, bridges, and water treatment facilities. The fact that companies were willing to engage in such behaviour for years on end is a testament to the deeply ingrained corruption that has plagued the province for decades.

The fallout from the investigation has been significant. Not only have several companies been ordered to pay substantial fines, but the public’s faith in the government and its institutions has been severely shaken. Many people in Quebec now view the province’s political and economic elite with suspicion. There is a growing sense that systemic change is needed to root out corruption once and for all.

Despite the bleakness of the situation, there are signs of hope. The fact that the Competition Bureau was able to bring these companies to justice is a positive development, and many people in Quebec are calling for more transparency and accountability in government procurement processes. There is a growing sense that the province can emerge from this dark chapter stronger and more resilient than ever before, but only if it is willing to confront its problems head-on and implement meaningful reforms.