Corruption in Montreal throws doubt on ethical standards in engineering

A recent poll shows a significant loss of confidence in the engineering profession—while 83 percent of Quebecers said they trusted engineers in 2007, numbers from about a year ago show that now only around 65 percent of Quebecers would trust engineers.

In a report by the Canadian University Press, new information from Justice Charbonneau’s inquiry into corruption in Montreal’s construction industry reveals strong arguments for this loss of confidence.

The inquiry has led to city engineers Gilles Surprenant and Luc Leclerc admitting to taking in sum more than 1.2 million dollars of bribes from construction companies, in exchange for unfair collusion on public contracts. According to Surprenant’s testimony, this collusion raised the cost of construction projects in the Montreal area by around 30 to 35 percent.

The OIQ, the order of professional engineers in Quebec, does take measures against corruption. The Order requires every engineering graduate to pass an ethics exam on the path to becoming a professional engineer. In addition, the organization’s latest strategic plan prioritizes rectifying their lost public confidence through stronger focus on ethical intervention. And they have recently established a hotline—1-877-ETHIQUE—to share information on ethics and enable the easy reporting of violations.

Daniel Label, the president of the OIQ, confirms the damaging effect of the Charbonneau Commission on the profession. But he emphasizes the motivation and hard work spent on upholding the reputation of Quebec engineers.

STORY WRITTEN BY: PATRICK MILLER