Inquiry into construction industry won't help: QFL boss

Quebec Federation of Labour President Michel Arsenault has added his voice to those dismissing calls for a public inquiry into allegations of collusion in the province's construction industry.

Arsenault said an inquiry wouldn’t help police.

"Every time we had an inquiry in this province and this country — what was the result?" Aresenault said.

"What did the inquiry regarding Brian Mulroney's expenses … give to us? What did it give us, the Taylor-Bouchard inquiry [into accommodation of minorities] — nothing."

Last week, Quebec announced the creation of Opération marteau, or Operation Hammer, a special squad made up of police officers and Crown attorneys dedicated to investigating corruption and fraud allegations in the construction industry.

The opposition parties at the national assembly, Quebec's Order of Engineers and others have demanded the government launch an inquiry following media reports that a small number of construction companies colluded to drive up the prices of public works contracts with the support of organized crime.