The once-powerful legacy of Jacques Lamarre, former head of engineering giant SNC-Lavalin, has been irrevocably marked. Quebec’s engineering order has revoked his professional license, a stunning rebuke stemming from a decade-old scandal involving corruption and dealings with the family of Libya’s former dictator, Moammar Gadhafi.
A hefty $75,000 fine accompanies the loss of his license, a symbolic yet significant penalty even in retirement. The disciplinary council found Lamarre culpable on seven counts, concluding he either tolerated or actively implemented systems that fostered corrupt practices within the company during his tenure.
Lamarre’s leadership spanned from 1996 to 2009, a period of aggressive international expansion for SNC-Lavalin. He preemptively resigned from the engineering order in August, a move that now appears strategically timed, though he maintains his innocence regarding the illicit activities.
Stripping an engineer of their license represents the most severe sanction the order can deliver, a final condemnation that transcends Lamarre’s retirement. He expressed “deep disappointment” with the ruling, but has chosen not to contest it, opting instead for a quiet withdrawal.
The investigation revealed a network of payments designed to secure lucrative contracts, including millions funneled towards Saadi Gadhafi, son of the Libyan strongman. Documents showed roughly $2 million in benefits authorized for the Gadhafi family in a single year, 2008, a clear attempt to influence business outcomes.
Beyond the Gadhafi connections, Lamarre was found guilty of failing to establish sufficient safeguards against improper political donations and authorizing payments to municipal parties in exchange for contracts. These actions painted a picture of a company willing to bend the rules to secure its ambitions.
In his resignation letter, Lamarre staunchly defended his actions while at the helm, asserting he always acted in the best interests of both the company and Quebec. He simultaneously criticized the disciplinary process as unfairly delayed and burdened by an overwhelming volume of documentation – over 150,000 pages.
The council did acquit Lamarre on several high-profile allegations, including those related to a yacht reportedly linked to the Gadhafi family. However, the remaining convictions proved sufficient to warrant the ultimate professional penalty.
This case echoes a broader scandal that engulfed SNC-Lavalin in 2019, when a division of the company – now known as AtkinsRéalis – pleaded guilty to fraud charges related to Libyan contracts. That plea resulted in a $280-million fine, a testament to the scale of the corruption.
Lamarre now intends to dedicate his time to family and personal pursuits, leaving behind a complicated legacy. The ruling serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of unchecked ambition and the enduring impact of past misdeeds.
