Allegations of extortion, violence and intimidation are being levelled at the construction trades affiliated with the Quebec Federation of Labour, which this week became the subject of a police investigation.
On Wednesday, the Quebec government asked police to investigate allegations of criminal activity in the construction industry on the province's north shore. Thursday, opposition politicians called for a full public inquiry.
Meanwhile, in another police investigation, an arrest warrant was issued Thursday for Jocelyn Dupuis, the former president of QFL-Construction, which represents more than 70,000 tradesmen and other construction workers in the province. Mr. Dupuis faces fraud charges for allegedly producing thousands of dollars in false receipts that he claimed for payment from his union.
Expense reports and receipts obtained by Radio-Canada last year showed that Mr. Dupuis claimed $125,000 over a six-month period, running up average weekly meals and restaurant receipts of almost $5,000.
Another charge involved allegations that he produced a false receipt of $11,300 for new windows that were supposed to have been installed at the home of the current QFL-Construction president Yves Mercure.
Mr. Dupuis, who quit as union president in 2008 after being ordered to resign by QFL president Michel Arsenault, is out of the country. It is not known when he will return.
The arrest warrant for Mr. Dupuis was issued as QFL-Construction is in the midst of a major controversy over intimidation tactics that rival union members said were being used against them.
The head of QFL-Construction's North Shore operations, Bernard Gauthier, known in labour circles as "Rambo," was caught on tape threatening a rival union representative.
"You'll see you won't be laughing when Rambo gives a good one between the teeth," Mr. Gauthier was heard saying in a taped conversation that was aired by Radio-Canada this week.
Mr. Gauthier told the media his comments were taken out of context.
Along with two other union representatives, Mr. Gauthier was charged last month with using intimidation tactics on a construction site.
The special police unit called Operation Hammer created last fall by the government to investigate allegations of collusion and corruption in the industry has been sent to North Shore construction sites to investigate QFL-Construction activities. The union released a statement yesterday saying it was co-operating with the police.
"A public inquiry is needed now more than ever," said Parti Québécois Leader Pauline Marois. "There is too much going on not to take this matter seriously and undertake a full public inquiry rather than leave it only in the hands of the police."
Premier Jean Charest's government continued to resist calls for a public inquiry arguing that the police investigations were sufficient to bring order in the industry.