Ex-police chief heads anti-collusion squad

The head of Quebec's new anti-collusion squad saysa public inquiry is the best way to end illegal practices in the province's construction industry.

Former Montreal police chief Jacques Duchesneau was appointed this week to lead the anti-collusion squad, which will operate within Quebec's transport ministry to monitor contract tenders and investigate allegations of bid-rigging.

Duchesneau told CBC News the squad is a step in theright direction to correcting the industry, butonly a public inquiry will provide solutions.

"When it was announced that it was only [going to be] a police investigation, well, I was against that, because a police investigation by definition is only looking backwards. We need to be looking forward."

Quebec Transport Minister Julie Boulet announced the new squad in response to recommendations auditor general Renaud Lachance, who released a scathing report on irregularities in the transport and construction industry last fall.

Quebec plans to spend $4 billion on roadwork and highway construction this year, generating tens of thousands of jobs. But critics have charged that bid-rigging in the sector is jacking up the cost of repairing roads and bridges.

The province launched a massive long-term infrastructure spending plan three years ago, in response to the Concorde overpass collapse that killed five people in Laval in 2006.