Employees, vendor speak out about abrupt Highbridge Construction closure
The abrupt closure of an Ottawa construction company is having a ripple effect on everyone from homeowners and employees to contractors who say they're owed thousands of dollars.
Electrician Chris Neron is unexpectedly out of a job after Highbridge Construction shut its doors and announced would be filing for bankruptcy.
"Really sad, actually, because it's pathetic, and I'm not the only one," Neron said of himself and others now looking for work.
Homes have been left in shambles and complaints about the company are piling up.
Neron alleges he witnessed high-pressure tactics from project managers.
"They would show on site and they would ask for more money to keep their project going but the client would respond 'I already gave you 20 grand and you're telling me you have no money to buy material?' So it's been going on for awhile," Neron said.
Recently, Neron said employees were told, because of a change in companies, they'd be paid with cheques instead of direct deposit. He says another e-mail came in hours later with a strange request.
"We received another one saying can anybody hold onto their cheques until Monday because we're waiting on a big company to give us big money to cover those cheques and we would be rewarded 2,000 Air Miles," he said. "I was one of them that contacted them directly [saying] I will wait until Monday. I was one of the lucky guys that deposited it today. It was declined, it all bounced."
CTV News has made multiple attempts to contact the company and has not heard back from anyone.
Cory Desormeaux owns Junk that Funk and said he's out five figures.
"A big contracting company like that not paying their tradespeople, not paying the electricians, not paying the plumbers, the garbage guys, it's awful," he said. "There's a ripple effect; there's financial losses, there's wasted time. We're still driving around today wasting our time picking up our bins on sites, dealing with dumping fees, dealing with angry homeowners so it's just not right."
The Home Construction Regulatory Authority says it's cracking down. Consumer advocate Barbara Captijn says oversight bodies have had years to act and haven't done enough to protect people.
"HCRA should've protected the employees you're talking about and the consumers that I'm talking about because they should have or must have known there were red flags about the financial ability of this builder to meet his obligations," she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.