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
- Man arrested for selling fake bus passes on Kijiji
- Saint John Police are warning about fraud on the online classified site Kijiji regarding the sale of city bus passes. more »
- Rothesay woman killed in domestic homicide
- The Rothesay Regional Police say a 39-year-old man will be charged in relation to a domestic homicide that happened on Wednesday. more »
- Glut of Tory bills meant to stifle debate, Liberals allege
- The Alward government has launched a legislative blitz on Wednesday, with cabinet ministers introducing 16 bills four weeks before MLAs hope to break for the summer. more »
- Needed: New approaches to defuse 'suicide contagion' among teens
- Mental health experts say we need to find new ways to refer to and discuss suicide, particularly now that a large medical study has confirmed that teens are more susceptible to the idea if they know a schoolmate who died that way. more »
Must Watch
Top News Headlines
- Mike Duffy's primary home not P.E.I., unedited Senate report says
- A copy of the original report by an internal Senate committee on Senator Mike Duffy's expense claims, obtained by CBC News, makes it clear the committee believes Duffy's primary residence is in Ottawa, and not in P.E.I. more »
- Neil Macdonald: Harper no Obama when it comes to dealing with scandals
- Beset by three so-called scandals at the moment, Barack Obama has been meeting his accusers and the press head on, Neil Macdonald writes. The same cannot be said for how Stephen Harper operates. more »
- Needed: New approaches to defuse 'suicide contagion' among teens
- Mental health experts say we need to find new ways to refer to and discuss suicide, particularly now that a large medical study has confirmed that teens are more susceptible to the idea if they know a schoolmate who died that way. more »
- U.K. attack suspects were focus of past security probes
- WARNING: This story contains graphic content. A British government official says both suspects in the brutal killing of a solider were part of previous security services investigations for possible extremist links. more »
- Rothesay woman killed in domestic homicide
- Man arrested for selling fake bus passes on Kijiji
- Kent Homes in Bouctouche lands its largest contract
- Glut of Tory bills meant to stifle debate, Liberals allege
- Sale of Edmundston mill good news, mayor says
- Vandals spray-paint profanity on CFB Gagetown tank
- Paramedics unable to revive Chinese student, inquest hears
- Needed: New approaches to defuse 'suicide contagion' among teens
- Duffy should resign over expense scandal, Tory MP says
