A veterinary research center in Saint-Hyacinthe that cost $50 million in public funds has been so badly compromised by construction defects that it is still not fully functional a decade after its inauguration.
The Quebec government and general contractor Aecon have been at loggerheads for seven years over the numerous deficiencies at the Quebec Veterinary Diagnostic and Epidemiological Surveillance Complex, our Bureau of Investigation has found.
The building, which was handed over at the end of 2012, houses laboratories for researching all types of animal diseases. There is also a research center at the University of Montreal.
Quebec's Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ) has made no secret of its dissatisfaction with general contractor Aecon, to whom it awarded a contract worth around $31 million to carry out most of the work.
“The MAPAQ is faced with major problems with a “new” building,” deplores the Quebec attorney general in one of the numerous legal proceedings related to this case filed in the Superior Court.
“Amazing” lack of quality
The problems are so serious that the incinerator, which was supposed to dispose of animal carcasses, was still not functioning this summer, more than eleven years after the building's inauguration.
“The lack of quality is so astonishing, for example in the height of the drains sinking into the ground, that MAPAQ now fears that other problems are likely to arise,” Quebec also fears.
Diagnostic and Epidemiological Surveillance Complex in Quebec Jean-Louis Fortin / JdeM
According to the ministry, Aecon encountered “significant and persistent site management issues from the start of works to the end of the project”.
“These problems were largely due to the arrogant attitude of the representatives of Aecon, who were the general contractors responsible for the project,” claims the State of Quebec.
Confidential payment
Aecon, in turn, claims to have received more than 1,000 requests for project changes or clarifications over time.
“The numerous changes to the work resulted in Aecon and the subcontractors being unable to complete their work in accordance with the sequence, schedule and planned moves,” the general contractor claims in the lawsuit. Aecon also filed lawsuits against several of its subcontractors.
A 175-page contract was concluded in December 2021 to carry out numerous correction work. Discussions are still ongoing regarding the financial liability of the parties. Last October, Quebec paid the contractor more than $75,000 under a “confidential contract” related to the dispute.
Diane Rivard, senior communications consultant at Aecon, declined to comment on the matter, citing the confidentiality of the agreement. She referred us to the ministry.
“The MAPAQ will not comment on the case as it is still pending in court and the settlement has not yet been finalized,” said Yohan Dallaire Boily, the ministry’s public relations officer.
Some of the defects according to MAPAQ
- Paint “bubbles and cracks”.
- “Drains, especially from autopsy rooms, sink into the ground.”
- “Leaky, cold rooms […] Bodily fluids leaked requiring urgent temporary repairs.”
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