A Fallen Titan: Former SNC-Lavalin CEO Loses License in Ethics Scandal
The once-powerful Jacques Lamarre, former CEO of SNC-Lavalin (now AtkinsRéalis Group Inc.), is facing the consequences of his actions. Quebec’s engineering regulator, L’Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec, has handed down a harsh verdict: Lamarre will be stripped of his professional license and fined a hefty $75,000. This decision, based on a joint recommendation by both the order’s lawyers and Lamarre’s own legal team, stems from a series of ethical breaches related to SNC-Lavalin’s controversial dealings in Libya and questionable political financing practices in Montreal.
But here’s where it gets controversial: while Lamarre has been found guilty on seven counts of misconduct, he was cleared of one particularly sensational allegation – authorizing the purchase of a $25 million luxury yacht for Saadi Gadhafi, son of the late Libyan dictator. The disciplinary council, however, concluded that SNC-Lavalin, under Lamarre’s leadership, made payments totaling around $2 million to the Gadhafi family, including covering Saadi’s expenses during his stay in Canada.
This scandal goes deeper than just one man. SNC-Lavalin itself faced charges of fraud and violating Canada’s Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act in 2015 for its Libyan ventures. While the company initially sought a deferred prosecution agreement, it was denied. Four years later, a settlement was reached, with the construction division pleading guilty to fraud and paying a $280 million fine.
The web of complicity extends further. Riadh Ben Aissa, SNC-Lavalin’s key figure in Libya, admitted to paying Saadi Gadhafi millions in kickbacks to secure lucrative contracts. Ben Aissa, along with his supervisor Sami Bebawi, also siphoned company funds through shell companies. Bebawi, convicted of bribery and fraud in Canada, claims he acted with the knowledge of his superiors, including Lamarre.
And this is the part most people miss: Lamarre, despite his central role in the company during these events, has never faced criminal charges in Canada. He maintains his innocence, dismissing Bebawi and Ben Aissa as unreliable due to their personal gain from the scheme.
The case raises troubling questions about corporate accountability and the reach of justice. Were Lamarre and other senior leaders truly unaware of the extent of the corruption? Or did they turn a blind eye for the sake of profit?
What do you think? Should Lamarre face criminal charges, or is the loss of his license and the fine sufficient punishment? Let us know in the comments below.
