Groupe Dupuis Paquin

Construction and building

The construction industry is among the most regulated economic activities in Quebec. The laws and regulations under the responsibility of the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) and the Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ) alone provide many situations in which companies active in this sector can be held criminally liable.

In addition to these industry-related penalties, there are also criminal offences under laws and related regulations such as those implemented by the Committee on Health and Safety at Work Quebec (CSST).

But there is more. In addition to the risk of penal liability, there is the risk of criminal liability, which is a consequence of persistent realities in the construction sector. To mention but a few, we've all heard about tax evasion related to moonlighting and illegal buildings as well as unfair competition resulting from practices of collusion and nepotism

Construction companies and their managers must carefully avoid the many patterns and mechanisms that nurture those practices. This could obviously temporarily impact their competitive capabilities. However, this is a small price to pay for the peace of mind of these companies' managers who can then devote their time to improving their strategic and operational management.

Whatever your current situation, we can help you survive and thrive in a sustainable construction industry.

In this practice area, our team meets your needs in several ways, including:

  • Regulatory Risk Analysis for industry standards;
  • Development of internal procedures to prevent criminal and penal offences;
  • Negotiation with stakeholders to allow construction companies to develop and grow sustainably;
  • Negotiation of settlement agreements with regulatory agencies such as the RBQ, CCQ or CSST;
  • Negotiation of settlement agreements with the provincial Crown prosecutors;
  • Representation in court in the event of penal or criminal prosecutions in the construction industry.