Garda rabrouée for his pursuit of “abuse” against a competitor

Photo Agence QMI, Joel Lemay
Guardians of the canadian Corps of Commissionaires photographed last August at the border crossing the Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle. They have been hired to help customs officers at the massive arrival of migrants from the United States.

Éric Thibault

Saturday, 10 February, 2018 01:00

UPDATE
Saturday, 10 February, 2018 01:00

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The Group Garda, a flagship of quebec’s private security, has been severely blamed by the court for having filed an action considered “abuse” against a rival in the hands of which he lost millions of dollars in contracts.

And decided by the judge, Thomas Davis, in rejecting a claim “frivolous” order of Garda against the canadian Corps of Commissionaires (CCC), last week.

Such an action would have forced the cancellation of a lucrative contract to guard the CCC in the youth centers of Montreal, that the Garda had lost because of a bid of $ 32,000 (or 1.4 %) higher than that of its competitor.

Garda may pay the price since the defendant will now have the right to claim compensation and punitive damages ” in compensation for the damage suffered “.

Trade war

This commercial war that dates back to 2014, a year before the arrival of the ex-chief of the Montreal police, Marc Parent, head of the division québécoise des Commissionaires.

Photo courtesy

Marc Parent

Head of the division québécoise des Commissionaires

Garda was awarded a security contract that the Commissioners had held since 40 years, at the Montréal-Trudeau airport. But the same year, the CCC has secured four major contracts by submitting bids slightly lower than those of Garda.

After Garda, the canadian Corps of Commissionaires – which counts in its ranks many ex-military and police officers retired from the royal Canadian mounted police, conducted ” an offensive designed to exclude its competitors in the quebec market for the security “, in the winning of tenders “at a loss” and ” unfair competition “.

Garda has also against “disguised subsidies” that the federal Treasury grants to the CCC because of its ” specific mandate aimed at reintegrating Ex-Combatants “. A policy of benefits that did nothing illegal, according to the judge.

For the rest, the magistrate concluded that the apparent lack of a “minimum facts” that could support the claims and requests of the Garda.

►Montreal-based Garda has 62, 000 employees around the world, including 9000 in Quebec. The Commissionaires employ 20 000 people in Canada, including close to 3000 in Quebec.