Quebec's professional engineering body has imposed a lifetime ban and a significant financial penalty on the former head of one of Canada's most prominent engineering firms. Jacques Lamarre, who served as CEO of SNC-Lavalin from 1996 to 2009, has been stripped of his engineering licence and ordered to pay a $75,000 fine by the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ).
The Disciplinary Ruling and Charges
The disciplinary council of the OIQ found Lamarre guilty on seven counts related to corrupt practices that occurred under his leadership more than a decade ago. The 82-year-old former executive was acquitted on seven other charges. The guilty verdicts centred on his failure to implement adequate systems to prevent corruption and for tolerating practices that enabled wrongdoing.
Among the specific findings were authorizations for payments totalling millions of dollars connected to securing contracts with the family of Libya's former dictator, Moammar Gadhafi. The council's decision noted that in 2008, the company approved benefits worth approximately $2 million for the Gadhafi family. Other violations included failing to prevent the reimbursement of political donations to employees and authorizing payments to municipal political parties to obtain contracts.
Lamarre's Response and Decision Not to Appeal
In a statement issued following the January 2026 ruling, Lamarre expressed that he was "deeply disappointed" by the outcome but stated he would not appeal the decision. He emphasized that he had resigned from the Order in August of the previous year, prior to learning what sanction would be imposed.
Lamarre has consistently denied any knowledge of the corrupt acts. In his resignation letter to the OIQ, he defended his tenure, writing that he believed he had acted in the best interests of both the company and Quebec. He also criticized the disciplinary process, citing delays of over 16 years since he left SNC-Lavalin and an overwhelming disclosure process involving more than 150,000 pages of documents.
"I have decided to move on with serenity and dedicate this time to my loved ones and to what still gives meaning to my life," Lamarre concluded in his public statement.
Broader Context and Corporate History
The sanctions against Lamarre are the latest chapter in the long-running legal and ethical saga surrounding SNC-Lavalin's past activities. The case stems from a period of rapid international expansion for the Montreal-based engineering giant during Lamarre's leadership.
In 2019, a division of the company, which has since been renamed AtkinsRéalis, pleaded guilty to fraud charges related to its Libyan contracts. That guilty plea resulted in a $280-million fine for the corporation.
For the OIQ, revoking an engineer's licence represents the most severe penalty it can administer, even when the individual is retired. This ruling sends a strong message about professional accountability and the enduring consequences of ethical failures in corporate leadership, regardless of when they occurred.
