On May 23, 2024, the Assemblée nationale adopted the Act to Modernize the Construction Industry. This new legislation is intended to:
- Increase the industry’s productivity by allowing for greater flexibility and more versatility on construction sites
- Foster better work organization by allowing for greater workforce mobility throughout Quebec
- Facilitate access by women and culturally diverse people within Quebec society to the construction industry
- Optimize the collective bargaining system to encourage a harmonious conclusion to negotiations
- Bolster the Commission de la construction du Québec’s governance, role and operations
Gradual deployment
Certain changes resulting from the Act to modernize the construction industry are already in force, whereas others will come into force later. Therefore, this page contains information that is likely to evolve, especially for the regulatory measures whose date of coming into force is yet to be determined. The CCQ will also gradually update the large amount of content on its website and all documentation that it produces affected by the new legislation.
Measures currently in force
To quickly identify the measures already in force, please read the list below. You can also read the section “All planned measures and their dates of coming into force” to see the complete list of measures.
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Since May 28, 2024
Here are the measures that came into force on May 28, 2024.
Measures aimed at increasing productivity:
- Introducing the concept of versatility in work organization. For more information, visit www.ccq.org/versatility. (Measure 1)
- Enabling the CCQ to regulate so that a person holding an occupation competency certificate can perform a shared activity in the conditions and to the extent set out in Schedule E of the Regulation respecting the vocational training of the workforce in the construction industry. (Measure 2)
- Enabling permanent employees of the Québec housing offices to undertake building maintenance, repairs, renovations, and modifications. (Measure 7)
Measures aimed at facilitating access to the industry and encouraging inclusion:
- For apprentices, recognizing training hours obtained outside Québec in relation to Section 7 (training obligation), which must be taken as part of a training program recognized by the CCQ for the trade in question. (Measure 11)
- Adding preventive retirements and maternity, paternity, adoption, and parental leaves for reasons that allow for the renewal of a competency certificate in the absence of declared hours. (Measure 12)
- Providing the CCQ with the possibility of regulating for the purpose of recognizing diplomas earned outside of Québec. (Measure 14)
Measures aiming to increase transparency and cooperation:
- Introducing a complaint mechanism to the Tribunal administratif du travail for lack of negotiations in good faith. (Measure 30)
- Providing that the CCQ must collaborate with government departments and agencies in mandates that have an impact on the industry and that it has the mandate to promote workforce development. (Measure 33)
- Providing that the CCQ must be informed upon submission of any appeals concerning the regulations for which it is responsible and of any interpretation grievances. (Measure 34)
- Creating a joint committee responsible for studying any question pertaining to labour relations and workers’ working conditions. (Measure 35)
- Providing a framework for the strategic plan that the CCQ must produce, which must now be submitted for government approval. (Measure 36)
- Adding a non-voting representative from the Ministère du Travail to the CCQ’s board of directors. (Measure 37)
Other measures aiming to modernize the construction industry:
- Amending the Regulation respecting the remuneration of arbitrators of grievances or complaints in the construction industry in order to level out the remuneration rates for and fees charged by all grievance arbitrators. (Measure 39)
- Withdrawing the obligation to obtain the CCQ’s authorization before submitting an interpretation grievance. (Measure 40)
- Increasing the fines provided for in Act R-20. (Measure 41)
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Since November 30, 2024
Here is a summary of the measures in force since November 30, 2024.
Measures aimed at increasing productivity
An employer may now have a person work outside of his or her region of residence, throughout Québec, if this person:- Holds a journeyman or occupation competency certificate and has worked at least 15,000 hours in the industry, without regard for the number of hours worked for that employer. (Measure 3)
If applicable, a mention to this effect will automatically appear on the next competency certificate. To find out if the required number of hours has been reached, contact us via the “Contact us” option in the online services or by calling 1 888 842-8282
- Holds a competency certificate and has worked for that employer a minimum of
- 750 hours in the case of a man (no longer 1,500 hours) (Measure 4)
- 400 hours in the case of a woman (no longer 500 hours) (Measure 4)
- 400 hours in the case of a First Nations person or Inuit or a representative of the diversity of Québec society (Measure 5)
These hours must have been worked during the first 24 months of the 26 months preceding the issuance or renewal of the competency certificate. The mention “Preferential Employer” and the employer’s name will automatically appear on the next competency certificate.
To take advantage of the 400 hours measure and all other measures dedicated to them, First Nations people and Inuit and representatives of the diversity of Québec society must voluntarily identify themselves as such to the CCQ.
Measures aimed at facilitating access to the industry and encouraging inclusion
The CCQ may now grant:
- An apprentice competency certificate: when a person shows that he or she has acquired, in work experience and vocational training, a total number of hours equivalent to at least 35% of the duration of apprenticeship in the trade in question (except the trade of crane operator). In effect, recognized training hours are now also considered in the calculation of the 35% hours, and no longer solely hours of work experience. (Measure 8)
- An occupation competency certificate:
- When a person has 750 hours of work experience performed during pertinent activities not subject to Act R-20 (Measure 9)
- When a person has graduated from the course leading to the occupation of line worker, without having to pass the Cours de connaissance générale de l’industrie de la construction (CCGIC) beforehand. In effect, this person is exempted from the annual process of registration for the CCGIC but will have to pass it in the future to have his or her certificate renewed. (Measure 10)
New rules for the way the Carnet référence construction functions allow:
- Holders or a referral permit to contact an employer when that employer makes a declaration of workforce need, unless the employer refuses (Measure 17)
- Employers to automatically obtain access to the professional profile, training profile, and training hours of workers referred by the CCQ (Measure 18)
- Certain Indigenous nations and communities to obtain a permit (Kativik Regional Government, Cree Nation Government, Eeyou Istchee James Bay Regional Government, and Mohawk
- Council of Kahnawake) so that they too can submit workforce referral lists (Measure 19)
- The CCQ to generate workforce referral lists composed solely of people available (who are not currently employed) (Measure 22)
- Holds a journeyman or occupation competency certificate and has worked at least 15,000 hours in the industry, without regard for the number of hours worked for that employer. (Measure 3)
All planned measures and their dates of coming into force
Productivity-enhancing measures
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Increase workforce versatility and industry flexibility
Measure Effective date Act of regulation concerned - Introduce the concept of versatility into work organization, enabling those holding a journeyperson competency certificate (JCC) to occasionally perform tasks other than those provided for in the definition of their trade.
The following conditions must be met:
- The task performed is related to those defined in the job description;
- The task must follow the same sequence and advance the work, and can include preparation and finishing;
- The task must be carried out over a brief portion of the workday.
This measure excludes:
- work relating to a structure’s stability or load-bearing capacity and the operation of cranes of any kind;
- tasks relating to the following trades: electrician, refrigeration mechanic, elevator mechanic, fire-protection mechanic or pipefitter.
For more information on this measure, go to www.ccq.org/versatility.
May 28, 2024 Regulation respecting the vocational training of the workforce in the construction industry
New Article 4.0.1- Enable the CCQ to enact regulations so that a person holding an Occupation Competency Certificate can perform a shared activity in the case and to the extent provided for in Appendix E of the Regulation respecting the vocational training of the workforce in the construction industry.
May 28, 2024
Important: The CCO holder may perform shared tasks only when provided for in the Regulations.
Act R-20
Article 85.6
Regulation respecting the hiring and mobility of employees in the construction industry
Articles 1, 4 and 5.8
Regulation respecting the issuance of competency certificatesArticle 1.1 - Introduce the concept of versatility into work organization, enabling those holding a journeyperson competency certificate (JCC) to occasionally perform tasks other than those provided for in the definition of their trade.
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Make inter-regional mobility more flexible
Measure Effective date Act or regulation concerned - Enable people to obtain provincial mobility if they hold a journeyperson competency certificate or an occupation competency certificate and have worked at least 15,000 hours.
This will be able them to work in any region of Quebec, regardless of the employer who hires them.
November 30, 2024 Regulation respecting the hiring and mobility of employees in the construction industry
New Article 38.1
- Lower to 750 hours for men and 400 hours for women the thresholds for acquiring preferential worker status.
As a result, an employer will be able to employ a person holding a competency certificate anywhere in Quebec (provincial mobility), provided that he or she has worked for the employer for at least the required number of hours over the course of the first 24 months of the 26 months preceding the issuance or renewal of his or her certificate.
November 30, 2024
Regulation respecting the hiring and mobility of employees in the construction industry
Article 38
- Extend the 400-hour threshold for preferential worker status to people representing Quebec’s diverse society, including Indigenous persons, immigrants, visible minorities, ethnic minorities and people with disabilities.
November 30, 2024 Regulation respecting the hiring and mobility of employees in the construction industry
Article 38
- Withdraw the possibility of negotiating clauses limiting the mobility of preferred workers and render null and void any collective agreement provision on this subject.
May 1, 2025
Act R-20
Article 61.2
- Enable people to obtain provincial mobility if they hold a journeyperson competency certificate or an occupation competency certificate and have worked at least 15,000 hours.
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Allowing staff at Quebec’s housing authorities to be subject to the Act
Measure Effective date Act of regulation concerned - Allow permanent employees of the Regroupement des offices d’habitation du Québec to carry out maintenance, repair, renovation and alteration work.
May 28, 2024 Act R-20
Article 19 (8)
Measures to facilitate access to the industry and promote inclusion
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Facilitating access to competency certificates
Measure Effective date Act or regulation concerned - Allow for the recognition of training hours, for the trade in question when recognized by a competent authority, as falling within the scope of the “35% measure” leading to an Apprenticeship Competency Certificate (ACC).
Thus, these hours can be included in the calculation used to determine whether the threshold of 35% of a trade’s apprenticeship duration has been reached for the purpose of issuing an ACC, rather than just as hours of work experience.
People whose backgrounds are covered by the diversity* measure will not be required to present a job guarantee or have the educational prerequisites normally applicable to the initial issuance of an ACC. However, on renewal, they will need to have acquired the academic prerequisites.
November 30, 2024
By decree (exact date TBA)
Regulation respecting the issuance of competency certificates
Article 2.5
- Allow for the issuance of an Occupation Competency Certificate (OCC) to a person with 750 hours of work experience in relevant activities not subject to Act R-20.
If this condition is met, people covered by the diversity* measure will not be required to present a job guarantee for the initial issuance of their OCC.
November 30, 2024
By decree (exact date TBA)
Regulation respecting the issuance of competency certificates
Article 4
- Extend to graduates of the Montage de lignes électriques et de télécommunications (Electrical and Telecommunications Installation) course leading to the skilled occupation of Line worker, the measure leading to the issuance of an OCC without having to complete the CCGIC – Cours de connaissance générale de l’industrie de la construction (general construction industry knowledge course).
November 30, 2024 Regulation respecting the issuance of competency certificates
Article 4 (4)
- Recognize apprentices’ training hours obtained outside Quebec with respect to Article 7 (training obligation), which must be undertaken as part of a CCQ-recognized training program for the trade in question.
May 28, 2024
Regulation respecting the issuance of competency certificates
Article 7
- Add preventive, maternity, paternity, adoption and parental leave to the reasons for renewing a competency certificate in the absence of declared hours.
May 28, 2024 Regulation respecting the issuance of competency certificates
Article 8
- Allow for the issuance of an ACC to an OCC holder with 4,000 hours declared on the monthly report.
By decree (exact date TBA) Regulation respecting the issuance of competency certificates
New article 2.6
* Indigenous persons, immigrants, visible minorities, ethnic minorities and people with disabilities.
- Allow for the recognition of training hours, for the trade in question when recognized by a competent authority, as falling within the scope of the “35% measure” leading to an Apprenticeship Competency Certificate (ACC).
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Facilitate access to the industry by people representing the diversity of Quebec society
The measures below specifically concern women, Indigenous persons, immigrants, visible minorities, ethnic minorities and people with disabilities.
Measure Effective date Act or regulation concerned - Grant the CCQ the ability to regulate the recognition of diplomas earned outside Quebec.
May 28, 2024
Important: This recognition by the CCQ will be possible only once a regulation has been amended.
Act R-20
Article 123.1 (13.4)
- Allow people representing the diversity of Quebec society to benefit from the same measures for access to the industry as women.
By decree (exact date TBA) Regulation respecting the issuance of competency certificates
Articles 8.1 à 8.4
- Allow for the issuance of an Occupation Competency Certificate (OCC) to a woman or a person representing the diversity of Quebec society, if that person is qualified for the job of Survey instrument operator (surveyor), Blaster and driller, Line worker or Scuba diver (professional diver) and who has never held a certificate, without the employer having to provide an employment guarantee of 150 hours over three consecutive months or a letter of commitment.
Consequently, the future OCC holder is exempt from the same requirement as a woman with a diploma in a recognized trade wishing to obtain an apprentice competency certificate.
By decree (exact date TBA) Regulation respecting the issuance of competency certificates
Article 8.5
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Amending the rules of the Carnet référence construction
Measure Effective date Act or regulation concerned - Allow communication between employers and referral permit holders as soon as a need for workers is declared through the system, subject to the employer’s right to refuse any communication.
November 30, 2024
Regulation respecting the Service de référence de main-d’œuvre de l’industrie de la construction (construction industry workforce referral service)
Article 5
- Unless they refuse, make workers’ professional profiles available, along with any information the CCQ has on their training history.
November 30, 2024
Act R-20
Article 107.7
- Allow certain Indigenous nations and communities (the Kativik Regional Government, the Cree Nation Government, the Eeyou Istchee James Bay Regional Government and the Mohawks of Kahnawà:ke) to obtain a workforce referral permit.
November 30, 2024 Act R-20
Article 107.1
- Grant people representing the diversity of Quebec society eligibility for the same workforce referral measure as that in place for women.
By decree (exact date TBA)
Regulation respecting the Service de référence de main-d’œuvre de l’industrie de la construction (construction industry workforce referral service)
Article 7
- Establish the order for workforce referrals as follows:
- Women
- People representing the diversity of Quebec society*
- Other workers
By decree (exact date TBA) Regulation respecting the Service de référence de main-d’œuvre de l’industrie de la construction (construction industry workforce referral service)
Article 9
- When an employer declares a need for workers, refer from the referral lists issued by the CCQ only those workers who are available.
November 30, 2024
Regulation respecting the Service de référence de main-d’œuvre de l’industrie de la construction (construction industry workforce referral service)
Article 7
* Indigenous persons, immigrants, visible minorities, ethnic minorities and people with disabilities.
Measures aimed at increasing transparency and collaboration
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Optimize the collective agreement negotiation process
Measure Effective date Act or regulation concerned - Bring forward the union raiding period and the union vote so that they fall in the middle of collective agreements’ terms.
September 1, 2025
Act R-20
Articles 28, 29, 31, 32, 34, 35.3, 36 et 44.3- Bring forward the signing of the union negotiation protocol by two months so that it is completed no later than the end of February.
September 1, 2025 Act R-20
Article 41.4
- Bring forward the consultation of project owners by four months to June and amend the list of project owners to be consulted by ministerial decree.
September 1, 2025 Act R-20
Nouvel article 41.2.1
- Bring forward the notice of negotiations by one month so that the sessions take place no later than September 1.
September 1, 2025 Act R-20
Article 42
- Mandate that requests, proposals and issues be submitted no later than November 1.
September 1, 2025 Act R-20
Nouvel article 42.2
- Bring forward the start of the mediation period by approximately one month, extend its duration to 90 days, and revoke the labour minister’s ability to extend mediation.
September 1, 2025 Act R-20 Article 43.4
- Revoke the 21-day waiting period between the end of the mediation period and the acquisition of the right to strike and to hold a lock-out.
September 1, 2025 Act R-20
Article 45.4
- Introduce to the Tribunal administratif du travail (administrative labour tribunal) a complaint mechanism
May 28, 2024 Act R-20
Nouvel article 42.3
- Link the effective date of the change in union allegiance to the monthly reporting period.
September 1, 2025 Act R-20
Article 34
- Amend collective agreements to include the ability to make retroactive wage adjustments.
September 1, 2025 Act R-20
Article 48
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Bolstering CCQ governance
Measure Effective date Act or regulation concerned - Provide that the CCQ must collaborate with government departments and agencies on mandates impacting the construction industry (Quebec Infrastructure Plan, Office municipal d’habitation, etc.) and that it be mandated to promote workforce development.
May 28, 2024 Act R-20
Article 4
- Provide that the CCQ must be informed of the filing of any recourse concerning the regulations under its purview (scope of application, trade jurisdiction and sector membership), as well as of any grievances regarding interpretation.
May 28, 2024 Act R-20
Article 21
- Create a joint committee to study all matters relating to labour relations in the construction industry and to workers’ working conditions, with the exception of those under the jurisdiction of the CCQ Board of Directors or another committee provided for in Act R-20. This committee could provide its opinion to the labour minister on any question submitted by the latter in relation to his/her mandate and take up any question related to this mandate.
May 28, 2024 Act R-20
New articles 18.14.1.2 à 18.14.1.8
- Provide a framework for the strategic plan that the CCQ is required to develop, which is now subject to government approval.
May 28, 2024 Act R-20
New articles 15.0.2 et 15.0.3
- Add to the CCQ Board of Directors a non-voting representative from the Ministère du Travail.
May 28, 2024 Act R-20
New article 3.9.0.1
Other measures aimed at modernizing the construction industry
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Implement other measures aimed at modernizing the construction industry
Measure Effective date Act or regulation concerned - Consult the Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse for measures on diversity.
January 1, 2025 Act R-20 Article 126.0.1
- Amend the Regulation respecting the remuneration of arbitrators of grievances or complaints in the construction industry to harmonize the compensation rates and fees chargeable by all grievance arbitrators mandated by the Ministère du Travail and the CCQ.
May 28, 2024 Regulation respecting the remuneration of arbitrators of grievances or complaints in the construction industry
Articles 1 à 7
- Withdraw the requirement to obtain CCQ authorization before filing an interpretation grievance.
May 28, 2024
Act R-20
Article 62
- Revise the value of fines provided for in Act R 20.
May 28, 2024 Act R-20
Articles 83, 83.1, 83.2, 84, 111.1, 112, 113, 113.1, 113.2, 113.3, 113.4, 115, 115.1, 116, 117, 119, 119.01.1, 119.0.2, 119.0.3, 119.0.4, 119.0.5, 119.1, 119.1.1, 119.3, 119.4, 119.7, 119.8, 119.9, 119.10, 120, 122
Nouvel article 122.
Questions?
For further information on the various measures, or if you have any questions about the modernization of the construction industry, please write us at [email protected].