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
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.
Improve balance and build core strength with this exercise
When it comes to cardiovascular fitness, you may tend to focus on activities that move you forward, such as walking, running and cycling.