December 19, 2012 Public Contracts

Montréal - The Autorité des marchés financiers (the "AMF") wishes to inform companies (enterprises) competing in a call for tenders process for construction or service contracts and subcontracts valued at $40 million and over that the documents needed to apply for AMF authorization prior to entering into a contract, in accordance with the Integrity in Public Contracts Act, are now available on the AMF website. These documents will be available in English soon.

The Government will designate, by Order in Council, the contract values, categories and groups for which AMF authorization will eventually be required, so as to avoid processing delays. To ensure timely filing of applications, the AMF encourages companies wishing to do business with Québec public bodies to sign up for E-mail Info so that they receive up-to-date information about public contracts, including changes regarding contract values, categories and groups.

Processing of applications

The AMF will forward the application information to the Unité permanente anticorruption(UPAC), so that the necessary audits can be carried out in co-operation with the Sûreté du Québec, Revenu Québec, the Régie du bâtiment du Québecand the Commission de la construction du Québec.

The UPAC will subsequently send the AMF an opinion regarding the company applying for authorization, after which the AMF will issue a decision.

The AMF will begin processing applications on January 15, 2013. Applications will always be processed as quickly as possible.

The AMF is also mandated to update the public register of the enterprises it authorizes to enter into contracts or subcontracts with public bodies. This register will be posted on the AMF website over the coming weeks.

Fees

At the time of filing an application for authorization, companies are required to pay a fee of $400 for the analysis of their file and $200 for each person or entity subject to an audit, in particular, officers, directors and/or partners.

The Autorité des marchés financiers ("AMF") is the regulatory and oversight body for Québec's financial sector.

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Information:

Media only:
Sylvain Théberge: 514-940-2176

Information Centre:
Québec City: 418-525-0337
Montréal: 514-395-0337
Toll-free: 1-877-525-0337
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