The Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ) is required to set up and manage an apprentice and training system that enables the construction industry to have a sufficient quantity of high-quality skilled workers to meet its needs.

The CCQ meets this commitment primarily by four means:

• Encouraging the development of a new generation of skilled workers;
• Supporting the progress of apprentices;
• Encouraging continuous training by the industry’s workers;
• Maintaining, and improving, mechanisms that respond to the specific training needs of workers.

The training system has been developed jointly with the partners in the industry, the union associations and employer associations, working together within a decision-making and advisory structure composed of the Board of Directors, the Committee on Vocational Training in the Construction Industry, 26 vocational subcommittees, and 10 regional subcommittees.

This structure also contributes to the development and implementation of educational programs and provides support to school boards that manage training centres devoted to the construction industry. In addition, the CCQ manages and monitors six agreements concluded with the Ministère de l’Éducation et de l’Enseignement supérieur (MEES) and the school system.

For more than 20 years, the construction industry has had training funds to finance and promote its workers' upgrading activities. Thanks to employer contributions, this fund, among other things, assume all direct and indirect costs (for room and board, travel, and/or hours paid into the insurance reserve), thus creating an additional incentive for construction workers to engage in upgrading.

To consult the General Rules for Using the Training Fund for Employees in the Construction Industry, click on the following link: Règles générales d’utilisation du fonds de formation des salariés de l'industrie de la construction (in French only)

This approach seems to be bearing fruit, since, year after year, the number of individuals trained has grown constantly and the sums invested by the training funds has been maintained. In each of the last five years, an average of 21,000 participants -- forming almost 2,200 groups -- have upgraded their skills through upgrading activities organized by the CCQ. In addition, the training fund provides reimbursement for a variety of training courses offered by different service providers.

Interpreter services for the hard of hearing

To obtain the services of an interpreter for the hard of hearing for an upgrading activity offered by the CCQ, employees who are hard of hearing must be eligible for the Fonds de formation des salariés de l’industrie de la construction (FFSIC). These employees may then use the services of an interpreter following a needs analysis. For more information, participants must make a request through the Info-perfectionnement line by calling 1 888 902-2222.