Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec initiates criminal proceedings against Société des traversiers du Québec and four of its employees

MONTREAL, June 19, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - The Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ) has initiated criminal proceedings against the Société des traversiers du Québec (STQ) and four of its employees for the practice of illegal engineering on five ships in its yards. Between March 2011 and April 2012, the STQ knowingly encouraged technicians it employed to perform work reserved for engineers under the Engineering Act, while Jean-Philippe Bretagne, Cédric Ferland, Thierry Lavoie and Jacques Breton drafted plans, gave advice and used plans that were neither signed nor sealed by an engineer member of the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec.

"The practice of illegal engineering can have serious consequences," said OIQ president Daniel Lebel, Eng. "In this particular case we were shocked to find a government corporation encouraging its employees to violate both the Engineering Act and the Professional Code, putting public safety at risk. It is our duty at the Ordre to ensure the profession serves the public interest and protects the public as well. And we devote all of our efforts to upholding this mission, especially at times like these."

The Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec became aware of the violations with regard to the Les eaux scintillantes, Félix-Antoine-Savard, Camille-Marcoux and Le Grue-des-Iles ships and the Isle-Verte-Notre-Dame-des-sept-douleurs ferry between July 25, 2012 and June 7, 2013.

The Ordre filed a total of 14 criminal charges, including seven against the Société des traversiers du Québec. Penalties for the various offences range from $3,000 to $13,000 each.

In the course of its investigation, the Ordre also uncovered certain facts it thought should be passed on to the UPAC anti-corruption agency, which is conducting a parallel investigation of its own.

About the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec
Founded in 1920, the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ) today includes more than 60,000 professionals among its members, representing all branches of engineering (except forest engineers). The mission of the OIQ is to ensure the protection of the public by supervising the practice of the profession within the framework of its constituent laws and ensure that the profession serves the public interest. For further information, please visit the OIQ online at http://www.oiq.qc.ca.

SOURCE: Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec

Steve Flanagan
SFI-Relations publiques
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Patrick Leblanc
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Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec
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