WSP ordered to pay $4 million fine for bid-rigging on Quebec contracts

Credit:Raysonho @ Open Grid Scheduler / Grid Engine CC0

OTTAWA - The Competition Bureau says engineering firm WSP Global Inc. has been ordered to pay $4 million for bid-rigging on municipal infrastructure contracts in Quebec.

It says the payment is part of a settlement filed with the Superior Court of Quebec for the company's role in a bid-rigging scheme between 2002 and 2011, when the firm was known as Genivar Inc.

The bureau says the scheme targeted public infrastructure contracts in the cities of Quebec, Laval and Gatineau, as well as certain municipalities in the Montreal region.

Engineering firm Dessau, which is no longer in operation, was ordered in February to pay $1.9 million for its role in the bid-rigging scheme between 2003 and 2011.

The Competition Bureau says WSP's settlement took into account that the company participated in a voluntary reimbursement program and has also implemented a corporate compliance program.

The settlement comes as engineering firm SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. continues to be in the spotlight for fraud and corruption charges.