The head of the construction wing of the Quebec Federation of Labour, Richard Goyette, is criticizing the unions representing Crown prosecutors, and provincial police officers for adding their voices to calls for a public inquiry into allegations of collusion and corruption in the construction industry.

The unions representing Quebec provincial police and Crown prosecutors have added their voices to calls for a public inquiry. (CBC)"It is a circus,” Goyette said. “Commissions of inquiry, sometimes, it isn’t for exposing the truth — it is to have fun, create a show and then act afterwards in a concerted manner."

Goyette made the comments in Quebec City as the national assembly’s Economy and Labour Committee began hearings on legislation tabled by the government aimed at fighting crime in the construction industry.

Labour Minister Sam Hamad said the changes are aimed at "blocking the road to all dishonest entrepreneurs in the industry."

The FTQ-Construction, the province's largest construction union, has been the subject of media reports linking it to organized crime. Goyette tabled a brief on behalf of the union before the parliamentary committee.

Questioned by the minister, Goyette defended the integrity of his union. He said the problem of organized crime in the construction industry had been blown out of proportion and does not merit the launching of a public inquiry.

Instead, Goyette asked the government to fight under-the-table labour, which can serve to launder money; and to address the precarious nature of jobs in the construction sector.

Construction 'not an industry of criminals'

The vice-president of the Quebec Construction Association, René Hamel, said recent media reports have unfairly tarnished the reputation of the entire industry.

"There are 125,000 workers in the construction industry," Hamel said. "It is not an industry of cowboys — it is not an industry of criminals."

FTQ-Construction director Richard Goyette says a public inquiry would be nothing more than a circus. (CBC)The opposition Parti Québécois and Action démocratique du Québec accused the government of using the legislation as an attempt to distract from the mounting calls for a public inquiry.

During question period, Premier Jean Charest said the government had not ruled out the idea of a public inquiry after police complete ongoing investigations.

But PQ leader Pauline Marois said that argument doesn’t hold water, since the union representing Quebec provincial police officers is now also calling for an inquiry.

On Monday, the president of the Association des policières et policiers du Québec, Jean-Guy Dagenais, said the ongoing police operations were insufficient.

Dagenais said a report released by the province’s auditor general last week that was critical of how the province’s transport ministry awards contracts convinced him an investigation with a wider scope is necessary.

Last month, the government announced it was creating a special investigative squad, Opération Marteau, French for Operation Hammer, following media allegations that a small number of construction firms have colluded, with the assistance of the Mafia, to drive up the price of public works contracts.

"The hammer is doing a good job," said Dagenais. "But having a saw is not prohibited; and having a set of pliers is not prohibited — and the result would be more than positive."

On Tuesday, Quebec’s Crown Prosecutors Association also called for a public inquiry.

The group said using the law to pursue individuals for inappropriate contracting practices won't right a system they say is damaged by corruption.

“The time now is to restore public confidence in the institutions, in the justice system,” said the association’s spokesman, Jean-Denis Gerols.

But public inquiries can get messy, said University of Montreal political science professor Pierre Martin.

He predicts Charest will simply try to wait the issue out.

"Once the dirt starts to be flying around, then it hits everybody," Martin said.

On Tuesday, provincial police announced 10 additional officers would be added to the 60-officer Opération Marteau team.

The new officers come from the Montreal, Laval and Longueuil police forces.