Our business practices are based on a number of aspects, such as equity, compliance with laws and regulations, safety, innovation and competitiveness.

Hydro-Québec strives to build business partnerships that promote value creation. Suppliers are expected to be:

  • Competitive in their market
  • High-performing
  • Responsible with regard to health and safety
  • Qualified to submit proposals (in certain markets)
  • Active and interested in participating in requests for proposals
  • Demonstrating integrity and ethics beyond reproach

Safe, ethical and sustainable procurement

Hydro-Québec’s Supplier Code of Conduct sets out our expectations regarding the vendors we do business with. They must respect the company’s values, in particular with respect to integrity. Hydro-Québec’s employees undertake to follow the company’s rules of ethics at all times. The company has strengthened its health and safe requirements and established new standards that must be followed under applicable tender calls. In addition, tender calls may include environmental sustainability criteria, if applicable.

Health and safety: in it together

The health and safety of everyone we work with is a major and ongoing concern. Key to ensuring everyone’s safety is compliance with the workplace health and safety standards in force at Hydro-Québec.

The health and safety requirements for each RFP are listed in the general and specific clauses of the contract.

Our health and safety requirements and practices for requests for proposals (RFPs) and contracts have changed. Please consult them.

We believe that there is no economic incentive that justifies endangering the health and lives of our employees and suppliers. As a result, we are making a concerted effort to improve workplace health and safety and aim to set the standard in this field.

Supplier Code of Conduct

Hydro-Québec’s Supplier Code of Conduct sets out our expectations regarding the vendors we do business with. The code is a key component of all contracts between the company and its suppliers.

Hydro-Québec strives to stay up to date on best business practices, while remaining true to its values and adhering to the strictest laws and standards in effect.

To maintain the integrity of Hydro-Québec and its activities as well upholding public confidence, suppliers and sub-contractors must act responsibly, with integrity and loyalty, and must show respect towards people and the work environment.

Rules of ethics

To ensure fair treatment toward all suppliers, our company and employees have a duty to:

  • Perform their tasks in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and organizational guidelines, particularly the rules of ethics and codes of conduct in effect.
  • Avoid any conflicts of interest along with any situation liable to create them.

Ethics hotline

To signal any potential wrongdoing or an inappropriate situation — embezzlement, fraud, theft, conflict of interest or unethical behaviour — you may report it anonymously by calling the ethics hotline at 1 866 ETHIQUE (1 866 384-4783).

Available 24/7, this service is provided by an independent operator.

Consult the Procédure de traitement des allégations concernant des actes répréhensibles ou des situations inappropriées [procedure for handling allegations concerning wrongdoings or inappropriate situations] [PDF 180 kB – in French only]

Sustainable development

Committed to the principles of sustainability, Hydro-Québec encourages its suppliers to follow, wherever applicable, the sustainable procurement criteria it has established in view of environmental and natural resource conservation.