Quebec engineers’ association responds with more practice inspections

Following the allegations of corruption in the Quebec construction industry, the Ordre des ingénieurs du Quebec (OIQ), the licensing body for engineers in the province, has authorized an additional 200 inspections of engineers in private practice. The inspections are in addition to the 750 already planned.

“These inspections, which serve a variety of objectives, are particularly intended to ensure that those who practice the profession do so competently and in accordance with the laws and codes of ethics and conduct. If improper practices are observed, the OIQ can demand that they be corrected and even take steps to crack down on them.”

The OIQ also said in a February release that the association is in favour of a public inquiry into the allegations of corruption in the construction industry as a whole.   (A recent poll by Le Devoir found that 60,000 people in Quebec favour a public inquiry.)

The troubles in the Quebec construction industry came to a head late last year, when allegations surfaced about bid rigging among contractors. There were also complaints about connections in the industry to organized crime, and about the cost of highway building in the province being 30-40% higher than elsewhere.

The February 9 OIQ press release from OIQ said that the association’s directors and its president, Maud Cohen, ing., were “convinced that the allegations concern only a small number of engineers. ” It said, she is “shocked and saddened by the distrust looming over the entire profession, especially since engineers have always been considered by the public to be some of the most trusted professionals.”