Quebec companies charged with bid-rigging following Competition Bureau investigation

OTTAWA, October 30, 2006 — Two of Quebec’s main suppliers of light-emitting diode (LED) traffic lights and two of their directors have been charged with bid-rigging following an investigation by the Competition Bureau.

Electromega Limited, of Candiac, and its President, Alain Lamoureux, and Tassimco Technologies Canada Inc., of Terrebonne, and its Vice-President, Conrad DiPietro, have been charged with bid-rigging under section 47 of the Competition Act following a call for tenders by Quebec City for the supply of traffic signals.

The Bureau alleges that the parties entered into an illegal agreement to share the Quebec City contract. The City call for tenders was issued under an energy efficiency plan implemented by Hydro-Québec. The program was intended to replace incandescent traffic lights on public streets with LED signals.

Under the Competition Act, penalties for bid-rigging include a fine at the discretion of the court, imprisonment up to five years, or both.

The Competition Bureau is an independent law enforcement agency. We contribute to the prosperity of Canadians by protecting and promoting competitive markets and enabling informed consumer choice.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Maureen McGrath
Communications Advisor
Competition Bureau
819-953-8982

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Information Centre
Competition Bureau
819-997-4282
1-800-348-5358