SNC-Lavalin and WSP allowed back on registry

The two Quebec engineering companies that are publicly traded received good news last week. Montreal-based WSP Canada (formerly GENIVAR) and SNC-Lavalin were both reinstated on the registry of companies allowed to bid on public contracts.

Following allegations of corruption at the Charbonneau Inquiry and elsewhere, some engineering firms were removed from the registry, which by Quebec law, is maintained by the AMF (Autorité des marchés financiers). It governs which companies can bid for public contracts or subcontracts related to construction works over a certain limit.

In a press release about their reinstatement, Robert G. Card, President and CEO of SNC-Lavalin Group, said: “We have implemented a comprehensive ethics and compliance program, but we are aware that ongoing effort is required, and we are committed to continuous improvement. SNC-Lavalin’s entire management and staff were mobilized and worked exceptionally hard. I believe that with this certification, SNC-Lavalin has taken an important step in its goal to become a standard of excellence in ethics and compliance in its industry. It’s the start of a new era for SNC-Lavalin.”

SNC-Lavalin has 6,400 employees in Quebec,18,000 in Canada, and 16,000 employees worldwide, which makes it a “longstanding engine of the Quebec provincial economy,” says the company’s press release.

In other news from SNC-Lavalin over the last two weeks, Robert G. Card has joined the World Economic Forum Partnering Against Corruption Initiative Vanguard CEO community. This group consists of 25 CEOs from various industries across the world whose mandate includes enhancing ethics and compliance performance in their organizations.

Alexander (Sandy) Taylor had been appointed as president of the company’s power group, based in Montreal. He joins SNC-Lavalin from ABB Canada.

And the company announced that it has reopened its office in Abu Dhabi, as the regional office for the Middle East and Africa.