Two divisions of a company blacklisted from World Bank-financed infrastructure projects for bribery are part of a shortlisted consortium bidding to build a $3.5 billion bridge over the Fraser River.
SNC-Lavalin Capital Inc. is listed as an equity partner with Fluor Canada Ltd. and John Laing Investment Ltd. under the banner of Pacific Skyway Partners for the BC Liberal government’s Massey Tunnel replacement project.
SNC-Lavalin Constructors (Pacific) Ltd. is also listed as a design-build contractor with American Bridge Co. and Fluor.
The World Bank debarred SNC-Lavalin Inc. and more than 100 of its affiliated companies in April 2013 for 10 years over bribery related to the World Bank-funded Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project in Bangladesh and a power project in Cambodia. SNC-Lavalin Inc. is a subsidiary of SNC-Lavalin Group, and, at the time, represented more than 60% of its business.
Gwyn Morgan, who was SNC-Lavalin board chair at the time, retired the month after the World Bank ban. He had advised Premier Christy Clark when she won the BC Liberal leadership in 2011. Clark named him to chair the Industry Training Authority Crown corporation in 2014.
The other two consortiums are Gateway Mobility Solutions and Lower Mainland Connectors.
Gateway’s equity partners are ACS Infrastructure Canada Inc., Aecon Concessions, HOCHTIEF PPP Solutions North America Inc. and Star America Infrastructure Partners. Dragados Canada, Inc. and Flatiron Constructors Canada Limited are the design-build contractors. For Lower Mainland Connectors, Kiewit Canada, Macquarie and VINCI Concessions are the equity partners and B.A. Blacktop, Janin Atlas Inc., and Peter Kiewit Infrastructure Co. the design-build contractors.
The BC Liberal government wants to complete the 10-lane toll bridge by 2022.
SNC-Lavalin was the successful bidder in 2012 on the $889.7 million design, build and finance contract for the Evergreen Line SkyTrain extension. The $1.43 billion project is expected to open six months late in December. SNC-Lavalin-owned InPower BC is building the $1.1 billion John Hart Generating Station for BC Hydro near Campbell River.
SNC-Lavalin is facing several criminal and civil court actions inside and outside Canada. A federal preliminary court hearing about corruption charges related to its contracts in Libya is scheduled for September 2018.
