Special CCQ operation throughout the summer

The Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ) will be present on school worksites throughout the summer of 2017. In fact, thanks to major investments by the Quebec government for building renovations and expansions, a large number of construction projects will be implemented in all regions of Quebec. The CCQ intends to be visible to ensure fair competition and a healthy climate on these worksites.

This sector has been under surveillance by the CCQ for a few years. In 2016, after more than 1,700 visits to schools, many situations of non-compliance were observed:

• Non-compliant subcontractors
• Undeclared hours
• Workers without competency certificates
• False invoices

Such infractions on public construction sites cannot be tolerated, in order to ensure the safety of people and buildings and allow sound management of public investments.

This operation was planned with the collaboration of the Ministère de l’Éducation et de l’Enseignement supérieur, which wants all funds invested in infrastructure improvement to be subject to tight control. In addition, in recent weeks, the CCQ met with most school boards to explain the obligations of Act R-20, as well as good practices to be observed, in its role as work provider.

During the operation, the CCQ will raise awareness among workers and employers of the construction industry of the importance of reporting non-compliant situations. Similar operations in other sectors have proven themselves: in the summer of 2016, an operation in the civil engineering and roadwork sector resulted in a 33% reduction in non-compliance levels on the sites visited. (10% of visits with infractions compared to 15% the previous year).

School work sites are subject to Act R-20, which means that workers must hold competency certificates and that contractors must hold a license from the Régie du bâtiment du Québec. All hours worked must be declared to the CCQ, and compensation must be in accordance with collective agreements.

The compliance operations involve site inspections and audits, which may result in civil claims and criminal remedies.