SNC-Lavalin had been banned by the World Bank when the Canadian government allowed it to bid on the Gordie Howe International Bridge project

The cost ballooned repeatedly from early estimates of about $1 billion to roughly $7 billion, and according to a 2018 study by Toronto professor Eric Miller, Canadian taxpayers could face between $14 billion and $52 billion in subsidies over the life of the project, since toll revenue may not be sufficient to cover the debt and interest on the bridge.

Firms that worked together on other projects, like the notorious Eglinton LRT, ended up bidding against each other on the Gordie Howe project, which raises hallmarks of bid rigging and collusion.

The result was the Bridging North America consortium, comprised of Spanish giant ACS Infrastructure and Canadian giant Aecon, winning the bid despite the fact that Aecon had mysteriously dropped out at the last minute, only to be allowed to rejoin after the contract was awarded. According to researcher Bob Rai with a strong background in the industry, this raises questions about how ACS Infrastructure secured the bid after losing its partner at the last minute.

Will the U.S. probe the procurement process?

The notoriously corrupt construction giant SNC-Lavalin had been banned by the World Bank when the Canadian government allowed it to bid on the Gordie Howe International Bridge project.

The cost ballooned repeatedly from early estimates of about $1 billion to roughly $7 billion,… pic.twitter.com/pIG66kDibW

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