Quebec Companies Charged with Bid-Rigging Following Competition Bureau InvestigationOTTAWA, October 30, 2006 — Two of Quebec's main suppliers of light-emitting diode (LED) traffic lights and two of their directors have been charged with bid-rigging following an investigation by the Competition Bureau.
Electromega Limited, of Candiac, and its President, Alain Lamoureux, and Tassimco Technologies Canada Inc., of Terrebonne, and its Vice-President, Conrad DiPietro, have been charged with bid-rigging under section 47 of the Competition Act following a call for tenders by Quebec City for the supply of traffic signals.
The Bureau alleges that the parties entered into an illegal agreement to share the Quebec City contract. The City call for tenders was issued under an energy efficiency plan implemented by Hydro-Québec. The program was intended to replace incandescent traffic lights on public streets with LED signals.
Under the Competition Act, penalties for bid-rigging include a fine a the discretion of the court, imprisonment up to five years, or both.
The Competition Bureau is an independent law enforcement agency that promotes and maintains fair competition so that all Canadians can benefit from competitive prices, product choice and quality service. It oversees the application of the Competition Act, the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act, the Textile Labelling Act and the Precious Metals Marking Act.
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Maureen McGrath
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