Charges laid in Montreal Area snow removal conspiracy

OTTAWA, July 5, 2000 — The Competition Bureau announced today that charges have been laid against five snow removal companies and a consulting firm in the Greater Montreal area. The companies are charged under the Competition Act with conspiring to share the market and unduly lessen competition in snow clearing, removal and transportation.

The companies charged in this case are La Cie de pavage d'asphalte Beaver (a division of Devesco Ltée), Excavation Loiselle et frères Inc., Giguère et Geoffroy Inc., Nepcon Inc., Roxboro Excavation Inc., as well as the consulting firm 9014-6135 Québec Inc.

The charges were laid following a criminal investigation conducted by the Bureau. The defendants are alleged to have engaged in a conspiracy in order to share contracts awarded by the Ministère des Transports du Québec for work on major highways in the Greater Montreal region during the 1997-98 season. The aim of the conspiracy appears to have been to increase prices paid for snow removal.

This is the second Competition Act case to concern snow removal companies in the province of Quebec. In January 1999 eight companies in the Quebec City area pled guilty to conspiring to share the market in the 1994-95 season. The City of Quebec has negotiated compensation from two of those companies for damages suffered as a result of the conspiracy. Section 36 of the Competition Act provides that anyone who has suffered a loss or damages as a result of conduct contrary to the Act may sue those responsible.

Copies of the documents filed with the Court of Quebec, Criminal and Penal Division, in Montreal are available from the registry office at the following file number: 500-73-0001333-000.

For more information, please contact:

Claude Boislard
819-953-8232

Hugues Leduc
819-953-8557