Canada: Regs mysteriously drop cement probe

The Competition Bureau for Ottawa has reportedly ended its investigation into allegations of price-fixing within the concrete sector, though according to reports, the probe’s ending has come abruptly, and without explanation.

The announcement was made in a letter to the Residential Low Rise Forming Association, in which the Bureau said it had “discontinued the inquiry” into the price-fixing allegations. The probe was launched after claims that various concrete firms colluded to raise prices over a span of 15 years.

The letter sent to the Association, however, did not explain why the investigation was dropped. In a statement, the group said it was not surprised by the Bureau’s decision to end its investigation, proclaiming its innocence and denying any of the alleged wrongdoing.

The probe was launched in 2012 and amounted to dawn raids of the Association as well as various concrete companies accused of raising new home costs.

Full Content: The Star

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