Antitrust Law Daily Wrap Up, ANTITRUST NEWS: Canada Competition Bureau fines ventilation business $130K for bid rigging scheme, (Mar 14, 2016)
Organizations Mentioned:Les Enterprises de ventilation Climasol Inc.
By Greg Hammond, J.D.
The Canada Competition Bureau has fined Les Entreprises de ventilation Climasol Inc. and its president $130,000 and $10,000, respectively, for participating in an agreement to rig bids for a ventilation contract for a residential high rise building in the Montreal area. The two defendants pleaded guilty today in the Quebec Superior Court in Montreal, the Competition Bureau announced.
Charges against Les Entreprises and its President, along with 14 other companies and 11 other individuals, were filed in December 2010. The Bureau’s investigation revealed that the defendants’ objective was to pre-determine the winners of the contracts, while blocking competitors who were not part of the conspiracy. The contracts, which were for the supply and installation of ventilation and/or air conditioning systems in various residential high rise construction projects, were worth an estimated $8 million.
Roch Raby, President of Les Entreprises, admitted that he secretly participated in the coordination of his bids with competitors to pre-determine the winner of the contract, according to the Bureau.
In July 2011, Les Entreprises Promécanic Ltée pleaded guilty to participating in the bid rigging scheme and was fined $425,000.
Companies: Les Enterprises de ventilation Climasol Inc.
News: Antitrust