Construction Holidays and Vacations
Construction Holidays and Vacations
Construction Holidays and Vacations

The dates of the paid statutory holidays and obligatory annual vacation are determined in the collective agreements.
Twice a year, the CCQ sends workers a vacation cheque.

Construction industry calendar

Every year, the CCQ makes this calendar available, with all important dates marked. You can download it here: (2025, 2024, 2023, 2022).

Important: The dates of the obligatory annual vacation and paid statutory holiday indicated after April 30, 2025 may change as a result of the upcoming collective agreement negotiations.

Construction vacations

Winter 

  • From December 22, 2024, 0:01 to January 4, 2025, 0:00
  • From December 21, 2025, 0:01 to January 3, 2026, 0:00

Summer

  • From July 20, 0:01 to August 2, 2025, 0:00

Statutory holidays  

For answers to the questions most frequently asked about statutory holidays, please visit Statutory holidays: Frequently asked questions. 

Regarding the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30) is not a statutory holiday provided for in the 2021-2025 collective agreements negotiated by the employers and unions. If you have any questions on this subject, please contact your association.

  • Special rules

    During this period, sites must be closed and all work executed must be paid at the applicable wage rate set out in the provisions of the sector-based collective agreements.

    There are some special rules, however, and agreements may be made between employers and employees for certain sites, in particular:

    • Maintenance, repairs, modifications, renovations, or emergencies
    • New construction work for light residential construction
    • Certain types of work set out in the civil engineering and roads sector.

    Annual obligatory winter vacation

    Special rules – Institutional and commercial / Industrial
    Special rules – Civil engineering and roads
    Special rules – Residential

    Annual obligatory summer vacation

    Special rules – Institutional and commercial / Industrial
    Special rules – Civil engineering and roads
    Special rules – Residential
  • A bit of history

    The well-known “construction holiday” was made official in 1970 by a government decree and took effect for the first time in Québec in the summer of 1971. This vacation period is one of the working conditions to which employers and workers have agreed.

    It is estimated that during this part of the summer, about one quarter of Québec's labour force is on vacation. Thus, for more than 35 years, the last two complete civil weeks (Sunday to Saturday) of July have marked the construction holiday. This tradition has been slightly modified since 2008.

To learn more about holidays and vacations

To learn more