Irving Oil charged in gas price-fixing 'cartel' in Quebec
Stems from Competition Bureau investigation that involved wiretaps, searches
CBC News
Posted: Sep 28, 2012 4:01 PM AT
Last Updated: Sep 28, 2012 7:11 PM AT
Irving Oil Ltd. and one of its managers are facing criminal charges over alleged price-fixing of retail gasoline in Quebec, the Competition Bureau announced on Friday.
Three charges have been laid against the company and three against Serge Parent, manager for the province of Quebec.
The charges stem from an investigation by the Competition Bureau, first made public in 2008, which involved wiretaps and searches.
Irving Oil and Quebec manager Serge Parent are each facing three charges of price-fixing. (CBC)"These charges highlight our continued and steadfast commitment to combating domestic price-fixing cartels," John Pecman, interim commissioner of competition stated in a release.
"Canadians are ultimately on the losing end of secret agreements that cheat them out of their money," Pecman said.
Irving Oil, a family-owned company headquartered in Saint John, N.B., and Parent, are accused of fixing the price of retail gasoline in Victoriaville, Thetford Mines and Sherbrooke.
A total of 15 companies and 39 individuals have been charged to date as part of the investigation.
Seven of the companies and 27 of the individuals have pleaded guilty to criminal price-fixing — communicating with one another to agree on the price they would charge customers for gasoline, the Competition Bureau states.
Fines have totalled more than $3 million, while terms of imprisonment have totalled 54 months, according to the release.
High or identical prices are not in and of themselves evidence of criminal activity, the Competition Bureau stresses. There must be evidence that competitors have made an illegal agreement to set those prices.
In a statement to CBC News, Carolyn Van der Veen, spokeswoman for Irving Oil wrote that the charges "are apparently based upon the activities of our former employees who have previously entered guilty pleas."
"Our Company was not aware of these activities and, when our Company became aware of them, we took immediate steps to address the situation, including disciplinary action. Our Company believes that we should not be held responsible for the actions of employees who knowingly violated company policy," she added.
Van der Veen said the company expects to "vigorously" defend these charges.
Irving Oil has more than 800 fuelling locations across Atlantic Canada, Quebec and New England, according to the company's website.
The Competition Bureau is an independent law enforcement agency.
Share Tools
Latest New Brunswick News Headlines
- Trudeau raises environmental questions over pipeline
- Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau says a proposed west-east pipeline project will not go forward unless it addresses key environmental concerns. more »
- Rothesay man charged with 2nd-degree murder
- Adam Prest, 39, has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of his common-law wife Tanya Shand in Rothesay on Wednesday. more »
- Duffy expense claims reveal more about campaign travel
- Election spending records show additional days Senator Mike Duffy spent on the campaign trail in the 2011 election, including days he told the Senate he was on business, and days on which Deloitte auditors couldn't track him. more »
- Chinese student drowned, pathologist tells inquest
- Drowning was the cause of death of a Chinese student in Saint John two years ago, a coroner's inquest was told on Thursday. more »
Must Watch
Top News Headlines
- Toronto Mayor Rob Ford fires chief of staff
- A week after bombshell allegations that Toronto Mayor Rob ford was videotaped smoking crack, the mayor's chief of staff was fired and Ford is continuing to stonewall reporters. more »
- 2nd suspect in Tim Bosma murder case to plead not guilty
- The lawyer for Mark Smich says the Oakville, Ont., resident will plead not guilty to first-degree murder in the death of Tim Bosma, the Hamilton man who disappeared earlier this month after taking two men on a test drive of his truck. more »
- SNC-Lavalin letter says Gadhafi son offered VP post: RCMP
- SNC-Lavalin's ties to Libya's former dictatorship ran so deep the company offered the son of Moammar Gadhafi a six-figure job as a vice president in 2008, according to a newly unsealed RCMP affidavit. more »
- Federal Court won't remove MPs over robocall allegations
- The Federal Court says it won't throw six MPs out of seats over allegations of widespread vote suppression through automated robocalls in the 2011 federal election. more »
- Rothesay man charged with 2nd-degree murder
- Trudeau raises environmental questions over pipeline
- Rothesay woman killed in domestic homicide
- New Brunswick fishermen's funerals draw hundreds
- Man arrested for selling fake bus passes on Kijiji
- Kent Homes in Bouctouche lands its largest contract
- Teen dies after falling from moving vehicle
- Fitch faces new questions over trust fund use
- Vandals spray-paint profanity on CFB Gagetown tank
