QUEBEC CITY - The province has launched legislation that would stiffen fines and increase punishment for rogue construction contractors.
Bill 35, introduced at the National Assembly Wednesday by Labour Minister Lise Theriault, would prevent any entrepreneur found guilty of fraud from bidding on a government contract regardless of whether that offense was committed within the construction industry.
Anybody convicted of such an offense will have to file that information or face fines and cancellation of contracts.
In certain cases contractors would not be allowed to bid on government contracts for five years.
As well, renting out construction licenses will become an offense punishable by fines of between $75,000 and $150,000.
Theriault said that tax scofflaws will also be targeted.
"We think it's important for the construction world that when you don't pay your taxes, when you commit fraud, you have to pay a price to pay, with that bill it makes it impossible to get government contracts," she said in a press conference Wednesday.
The Liberals hope to pass the legislation before the end of the year.
