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Macogep’s Proposal: Reform of the Government Contract Governance

The firm wants to reform the government contract governance to address permanently the situation in the construction industry. Macogep proposes a major reform of the rules governing the construction industry in the public sector, in its direct proposal entitled “Reform of The Government Contract Governance”. This document aims to stop permanently drifts within the industry.

Imposing the principles of independence and impartiality

Filed with the Charbonneau commission in December, this proposal comes as a result of a deep reflection on the construction industry drifts in Québec for the past years. Celebrating its 25th anniversary in a few months, Macogep believes it is a moral obligation to contribute to the commission effort.

“Our firm is based on the principles of impartiality and total independence with consulting-engineering, architectural and entrepreneurial firms. We have been recommending the segregation of duties between managers, designers and contractors for 25 years. This is to prevent conflict of interest. From the recent revelations of the Charbonneau commission, these principles, on which our business model is based, must apply to all the construction players. Moreover, they must appear in the laws and regulations governing the construction sector,” the president, Louis yves LeBEAU said.

Four areas of intervention and one goal

The proposal is partially inspired by the French law. It revolves around four areas of intervention:

1) Establish a legal framework for the public works management to clarify the roles and responsibilities of the owner. This is to ensure a healthy segregation of duties to public and private operators.

2) Introduce the segregation of duties. Let an operator identify incompatible tasks on a project, such as design and execution.

3) Rely on the independence of economic players, such as quality control laboratory, to avoid conflicts of interest.

4) Adopt a unique government contract code to encourage competition.

Four areas of intervention for one goal: address permanently the situation in the construction industry.