Quebec probe looks at allegations of intimidation on construction sites

MONTREAL – Shady practices by the province’s biggest construction union working on Quebec’s North Shore frequently drove up the price of projects there by as much as 30 per cent, the Charbonneau corruption inquiry heard Monday.

As the inquiry shifted gears to study allegations of extensive intimidation and extortion on work sites in the province, inquiry investigator Michel Comeau painted an image of a lawless region where the Quebec Federation of Labour’s construction wing representatives held ultimate power on when, how and what work would be done.

None of the witnesses would talk on the record or appear to testify before the inquiry, leaving Comeau to tell their stories.

The veteran investigator said that intimidation, threats, and vandalism meant that contractors working in that region needed an extra 20 to 30 per cent set aside to deal with alleged union shenanigans.

Comeau said many of the projects in that region were done at the behest of Hydro-Quebec, meaning taxpayers were on the hook for the union’s alleged handiwork.

And the union brass, based in Sept-Iles, Que., operated a sort of terror state on those sites.

The man in charge was Bernard “Rambo” Gauthier and he had several lieutenants who ran the sites.

“Over there, Rambo was considered a God,” Comeau said.

“He was an influential person on the work sites.”

Certain contractors and their employees that met with Comeau said Hydro-Quebec ended up paying the bills.

“Hydro closed its eyes because the work needed to get done,” the investigator said.

Comeau outlined a few of the obstacles to working in the region, using the example of the Romaine Complex, just north of Havre-Saint-Pierre on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River.