Quebec investigates construction threats

Quebec Public Security Minister Jacques Dupuis is calling on the province's Construction Commission and provincial police to investigate allegations of intimidation and threats at construction sites in the province's North Shore region.

"What I hear in the reports are allegations of possible criminal acts," Dupuis told reporters in Quebec City on Wednesday.

Quebec Labour Minister Sam Hamad welcomed the courage of those who speak out and encouraged construction workers, entrepreneurs and foremen to denounce unacceptable situations as soon as possible.

An investigation by Radio-Canada program Enquête revealed that dozens of workers in the region claimed they had been discriminated against, intimidated and threatened by members of the construction branch of the Quebec Federation of Labour.

'Regime of terror'

"It is practically a regime of terror," said Jean-Marie Chiasson, a construction worker in Baie-Comeau.

Chiasson claimed Bernard Gauthier, a representative of Local 791 of the heavy-machinery operators union in Sept-Îles, tried to kick him off a construction site because he was not a member of the QFL.

Another worker from Havre-Saint-Pierre, who spoke with Radio-Canada on condition of anonymity, said Gauthier has been preventing him from working since he left the QFL for another union, the Confederation of National Trade Unions (CSN).

"He told me, 'If you go to another union federation, you might as well throw yourself off the edge of the dock,'" he said.

Richard Petitpas, a backhoe operator, had hoped to get work on the Hydro-Québec project on the Romaine River. He said he doesn't know why Local 791 is preventing him from working on the site.

"If I go to Hydro-Québec, it is Bernard Gauthier," he said. "If I go to the entrepreneurs, it is Bernard Gauthier."

Called self 'Rambo'

Months ago, another foreman, who asked to remain anonymous, recorded a conversation with Gauthier, who is known by his co-workers as "Rambo."

"You're gonna shut your God damned trap until I get there," said Gauthier on the recording. "I'm trying to tell you as politely as possible. Until I meet with you, you better keep your God damned mouth shut. You'll see, when Rambo hits you in the teeth, you're gonna regret it."

Four complaints of discrimination have been filed against the QFL on the Romaine River project. Nine complaints of violence against workers on Hydro Quebec sites were brought before the courts in 2009.

So far, FTQ Construction has refused to comment on the allegations. Gauthier has denied there was any intimidation at the worksites on the north shore.

The situation comes amid concerns about alleged collusion and corruption in the province's construction industry.

In October, the province announced the creation of a specialized squad to oversee an investigation into the situation — Opération Marteau, French for Operation Hammer.