The Competition Bureau announced that the Public Prosecution Service of Canada has filed a preferred indictment against five contractors in Brandon, Manitoba, for alleged conspiracy to divide up contracts, among themselves, for refurbishment services for social housing units.

The charges stem from a Bureau investigation that found evidence that the accused individuals manipulated at least 89 contracts awarded by the Manitoba Housing and Renewal Corporation between approximately December 2011 and February 2016. These contracts are valued at approximately $4.5 million.

The following individuals have each been charged under the Criminal Code with conspiracy to commit fraud over $5,000, and under the Competition Act for conspiracy to allocate contracts:

• Geoff Gregoire
• Guy Pringle
• James Kauk
• Ryan Lamont
• Doug Gunnarson

The Bureau acknowledges the extensive assistance it received from the Manitoba Housing and Renewal Corporation, and the Brandon Police Service during the course of its investigation.

• Individuals convicted of price-fixing, allocating markets, or restricting supply (also known as conspiracy) may receive fines of up to $25 million and/or be sentenced to a jail term of up to 14 years.
  
• Earlier this year, the Bureau released its Collusion Risk Assessment Tool to help procurement agents in Canada protect their processes from bid-rigging.
  
• Those who believe they are involved in an illegal agreement with their competitors can come forward and seek immunity from prosecution or lenient treatment in return for their cooperation with the Bureau’s investigation.
  
• The Bureau strongly encourages anyone who suspects that a company is making illegal agreements such as bid-rigging, price-fixing, market allocation or supply restrictions, to report it by using our online complaint form.