The CCQ: For Skilled and Diverse Workers

In addition to the administrative aspects of the Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ), it is important to understand the role this organization plays in training and supporting a construction workforce that is both diverse and highly skilled—a necessity for ensuring succession within the industry and maintaining the high quality of work performed.

The CCQ in Brief

Source: Wikipedia

The Commission de la construction du Québec was created in 1987 to enforce the Act respecting labour relations, vocational training, and workforce management in the construction industry (Act R-20). Its mission is multi-faceted and includes, among other things, implementing collective bargaining agreements in the four construction sectors: industrial, residential, institutional/commercial, and civil engineering/roadwork.

Its responsibilities also include managing employee benefits (retirement and insurance), overseeing vocational training, and managing the workforce. The CCQ succeeded its predecessors, the Office de la construction du Québec (1975-1986) and the Commission de l’industrie de la construction (1971-1975).

The CCQ: Recognizing Skills Above All

First and foremost, the CCQ sets the hiring criteria for construction workers, emphasizing both formal education and on-the-job experience. To recognize the skills of workers from various backgrounds, the CCQ adapts the requirements for obtaining a competency certificate based on the type of candidate. These fall into four categories: graduate candidate, journeyperson candidate, non-graduate candidate, and employer candidate.

Regardless of their background, all candidates must meet the following requirements:

• Successfully complete the 30-hour General Health and Safety on Construction Sites course, which grants an attestation from the Association paritaire pour la santé et la sécurité de la construction.

• Pass the qualification exam, developed by expert journeypersons, covering all skills required for the trade in training.

A graduate candidate must primarily provide proof of education showing the skills and learning acquired during their studies (college or vocational diploma) along with a guarantee of employment from an employer for at least 150 hours over three months.

To help journeypersons broaden their professional scope, the CCQ allows them to obtain an apprentice competency certificate to begin training in another construction trade.

A candidate without a diploma can also find a place in the industry without completing their program of study. However, this relaxation of requirements is only possible if the labour pool is insufficient to meet market needs.

This means there must be a labour shortage, where the available workforce for the trade equals or is less than 5% of demand. The candidate must still complete certain courses in their program and meet the academic prerequisites set by the Ministère de l’Éducation et de l’Enseignement supérieur.

Employer candidates or self-employed contractors can have their prior learning recognized by providing concrete proof of their work experience. If their skills are incomplete, they can obtain credit for hours of training already completed and earn their certification by completing the missing training.

Highlighting Skills at the CCQ

Skills recognition has greatly benefited from the introduction of the Carnet référence construction, a workforce referral service launched on September 9, 2013. Employers can now use this tool to recruit workers to fill gaps in certain specialized fields.

Workers can also use the Carnet référence construction to create a detailed professional profile showcasing their skills to attract employers.

The CCQ: Making Room for Women in Construction

Source: Pixabay

Still underrepresented on construction sites, women benefit from CCQ initiatives that encourage their entry into the industry. Chief among these is the creation of the Women’s On-the-Job Training Program.

As stated by the CCQ, “this program reflects the construction industry’s commitment to supporting women who are new to the industry as they learn their trade or occupation.” The program also aims to spark women’s interest in construction trades by implementing concrete measures.

It also provides access to the Awareness and Integration of Women into a Work Team training. This training helps develop a plan that meets the requirements of a diverse and inclusive work environment, supported by a training advisor.

Furthermore, employers who hire a woman participating in the program receive financial compensation equal to 30% of her wages (up to a maximum of $10,000 for 52 weeks).

To balance the gender ratio in construction, the CCQ now gives priority to hiring women whose skills match an employer’s needs.

On What Types of Sites Must Workers Have a CCQ Card?

To start, note that certain small-scale projects do not require a licence. Additionally, an owner-builder (someone who performs or has construction work done for their own benefit) does not need a licence. An owner-builder can be an individual, a partnership, or a legal entity (public or private).

This exemption applies to work valued at less than $20,000 that is limited to repairing, maintaining, or renovating the property. However, the Régie du bâtiment du Québec specifies that “foundation work, erection or demolition, and modification work, such as moving walls, are not covered by the exemption.” Likewise, the exemption does not apply if the owner performs work on a gas or electrical installation.

In all cases, the contractor (general or specialized) performing the work must hold the licences required for the type of work being done. If the contractor or their employees refuse to provide proof of the necessary licences, the CCQ may order the work to be stopped under Act R-20. The Régie du bâtiment du Québec may then issue an offence for working without a licence.

It is important to note that a dwelling (single-family home, triplex, etc.) can have multiple projects under $20,000 in the same year, provided the projects are independent from each other. Volunteer work or work using materials supplied at no cost must also respect this limit; their value must be realistically estimated to comply.

Finally, the licence exemption also applies to maintenance or repair work performed by the employees of an owner-builder. As the RBQ notes, “an owner-builder does not need a licence if maintenance or repair work on the building is done by employees who normally do this work or who work in production at the facility and are directly employed by someone other than a contractor.” Electrical and gas installations remain excluded from this exemption.