October 26, 2009
Poll shows majority of Quebecers want construction scandal inquiry
But politicians still resist calls for a probe
MONTREAL
A pollster says there is a strong consensus among Quebecers for a public inquiry into links between politicians, the Mafia, and the construction industry.
Leger Marketing says 76 per cent of respondents to an online poll indicated support for an inquiry, while only 17 per cent did not. The web-based survey comes with federal, provincial, and municipal politicians resisting calls for a probe. Quebec has been rocked by reports that Mob-linked construction companies have repeatedly colluded to drive up the price of projects.
Mafia experts say the practice exists elsewhere in Canada, and is particularly worrisome now that Ottawa and the provinces are embarking on the most expensive infrastructure program in Canadian history.
The Quebec government says it’s too early to talk about an inquiry and that police should be allowed to do their work. The province was expected to announce it will create a new police squad specializing in the construction industry.
-Canadian Press
RELATED STORIES
| MOST POPULAR STORIES |
- Pursuit of LEED could result in professional negligence, insurance executive warns
- Construction moving forward on Ho Chi Minh City tunnel
- Deaths of five immigrant workers changed jobsites forever
- SNC-Lavalin subsidiary Profac under scrutiny over federal contract billing
- St. Marys Cement plant workers go on strike in Bowmanville, Ontario
- 20 Most Popular Stories
| TODAY’S TOP CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS |
These projects have been selected from 378 projects with a total value of $3,604,490,024 that Reed Construction Data Building Reports reported on yesterday.
$63,800,000 Markham ON Prebid
RESIDENTIAL, RETAIL DEVELOPMENT
$50,000,000 Thorold ON Prebid
$40,000,000 Etobicoke ON Negotiated
| CURRENT STORIES |
- Pride, sadness as Hogg's Hollow memorial unveiled
- Despite safety improvements, underground dangers still exist
- ‘Sandhogs’ who perished had diverse personal stories
- Commemorative quilt also a story of victims’ families
- Filling labour gap a top priority for incoming Canadian Construction Association chair
- Niagara Construction Association president worked her way up
- Pursuit of LEED could result in professional negligence, insurance executive warns
- Nova Scotia officials ‘comfortable’ covering cost of $60-million wind plant
- New Brunswick plans to install wildlife fencing for construction season
- Venues decommissioned in Olympic afterglow
- Canadian Construction Association chair bids farewell
- Hogg’s Hollow tragedy changed Ontario’s construction industry
- Wood being considered as preferred building material for federal projects
- Grizzly Oil Sands seeks approval for project near Fort McMurray
- Search continues for sustainable architecture
- Seven British Columbia communities sign Wood First agreements
- U.S. construction employment declines in January
- Ottawa unveils plan to cut red tape
| ALEX’S ECONOMICS BLOG |

Reed Construction Data Chief Economist Alex Carrick discusses current developments in the North American economic environment with emphasis on the construction industry.
- Sub-sector investment spending intentions from Statistics Canada’s latest survey (March 17, 2010)
- A dozen incredible measurement sets on Canada’s changing ethnic mix (March 9, 2010)
- How fragile is recovery around the world? (March 3, 2010)
- More







