Public inquiry 'urgent' for Quebec building industry

The head of Quebec's anti-corruption squadis calling for "urgent action" to tacklecollusion in the construction sector.

Jacques Duchesneau appeared Tuesday at an administrative legislature committee,to flesh out his squad's findingsaftera year-long investigation.

After meeting with more than 500 people through the course of the investigation, it became clear that money laundering, bid-rigging, political kickbacks and organized crime are an inherent part ofQuebec's construction sector, said Duchesneau.

But theindustry can be rehabilitated, he saidultimately through a full-scale inquirybehind closed doors.

Only a full-scale inquiry can restore publicfaith in the system, Duchesneau said.

But it has to be heldbehind closed doors, Duchesneau insisted, to ensure anonymity for people who risk speaking out.

Construction industry 'not normal' on many levels

During his appearance, Duchesneau revisited the squad's findings firstpublished ina report leaked to mediaearlier this month.

"It's not the report" that is devastating, he said"it's the reality it reflects."

In his half-hour introductory declaration,he used the phrase "not normal" repeatedly when describingaspects of the province'sconstruction industry.

He accused Quebec's Transport Ministry of acting as a "subcontracting master" that grants too much supervisory power to engineering firms that oversee contracts.

The ministry also suffers from "critical" management problems, he said.

Duchesneau's reportsaid groups like the Mafia and bikers not only use construction companies to launder money,but also act as enforcers for favoured firms.

Calling organized crime leaders "vultures," Duchesneau said they are also endemic in the world of political fundraising, and no party is immune.

Duchesneaufielded severalquestions from committee memberson his squad's methodology, mandate and evidence.

Hewas tight-lipped about threats directed at him during the investigation.

He refused to name names, calling the incidents "intimidation" and said he didn't file a formal complaint.