SNC-Lavalin’s federal ties come in all sizes

OTTAWA • From studies on northern transportation systems, to helping protect whales from toxins, to window washing — Snclavalin has extensive federal ties amounting to tens of millions of dollars in contracts, big and small.

The Montreal-based engineering and construction firm could see its revenue stream from federal contracts dry up if it’s convicted on corruption charges and subsequently ruled ineligible to receive federal work — a possibility under the government’s integrity regime.

The company is known for its work on major infrastructure projects in Canada, such as the design, construction and maintenance of the new Champlain Bridge in Montreal.

A document made public last month provides a list of far smaller examples of the company’s reach when it comes to government contracts.

For instance, Snclavalin has been awarded contracts with the Transportation Safety Board of Canada to inspect fire systems for $1,119, wash windows for $506 and disconnect electrical wires for $372, say documents tabled in Parliament in response to a written question from New Democrat MP Charlie Angus.

The federal procurement website contains more examples — it currently shows more than 100 additional contracts awarded to Snclavalin.

Last month, the company was hired to study whether certain contaminants that have leached from landfills are in large enough quantities to harm endangered whales, including the southern resident killer whales, St. Lawrence beluga and North Atlantic right whales.

Snc-lavalin has been fighting for the right to keep bidding for this kind of work — but the company also risks losing out on potentially lucrative contracts related to the federal government’s commitment to spend $186 billion over 11 years on infrastructure.