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Location: Ministry of Labour > About the Ministry > Ontario Quebec Construction Labour Mobility > Fact Sheets

Workers Performing Specialized Construction Work

Ontario contractors can now bring their workers into Quebec to do specialized construction work.

Construction work is considered specialized if:

• It requires expertise on a particular construction technique or product; and,
• The manufacturer's warranty for the technique or product is conditional upon all work being done by a person who has completed the manufacturer's compulsory training program.

It can include trades, activities of trades or occupations for which there is no current measure of access to Quebec.

A contractor who works on site must apply to the Jobs Protection Office (JPO) of the Ministry of Labour (MOL), in Ottawa, to obtain a Specialized Construction Work Card. The process is outlined below.

Ontario construction workers are required to join one of the trade unions that represent workers in Quebec's construction sector. For more information on this requirement, please call the JPO hotline at 1-888-998-9959.

How to Obtain a Specialized Construction Work Card

1. Go to the JPO and apply for a Specialized Construction Work Card.

The application must include the following:

• a description of the type of work to be done and how it meets the definition of specialized construction work;
• identification of the special expertise required to do the work;
• proof that the contractor/worker has successfully completed the manufacturer's training program;
• proof that the manufacturer's warranty is conditional upon all work being carried out by a contractor/worker who has successfully completed the manufacturer's compulsory training program;
• proof that the contractor/worker has completed the required occupational health and safety training;
• proof of identification; and
• recent pay stub, T4 slip or Notice of Assessment.

2. The JPO of the Ministry of Labour will:

• evaluate the application and issue a Specialized Construction Work Card to an applicant who meets the requirements to perform such work; and
• send copies of the application and supporting information to the Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ).

3. The CCQ will:

• review the application and information received; and
• issue a card identifying the trade union chosen, to an Ontario contractor/worker presenting a Specialized Construction Work Card, if it is satisfied that the work to be performed meets the definition of specialized construction work.

If the CCQ is not satisfied that the work to be performed is specialized construction work, the JPO will inform the contractor/worker of this decision. At this point, the contractor/worker may contact Ontario's Official Contact for a resolution to the matter (see contact information at the end of the fact sheet).

Ontario contractors/workers must carry both the Specialized Construction Work Card and the CCQ card identifying their trade union (representative association) at all times when working in Quebec.

For the purpose of working in Quebec, an Ontario worker with a Specialized Construction Work Card is recognized as a journeyperson.

You can do specialized construction work in Quebec without a Specialized Construction Work Card if one of the following two conditions is met.

• The work forms part of a trade listed in Attachment 1 (Appendix 1, Table 1 of the Agreement) and you hold one of the following certificates in that trade:
  • Interprovincial Red Seal Certificate of Qualification;
  • Certificate of Qualification;
  • Certificate of Apprenticeship;
  • Provisional Certificate of Qualification; or
  • Apprentice Identification Card.
• Or the work forms part of an activity of a trade listed in Attachment 2 and you have the applicable Trade Activity Card.

Further Information

For general assistance or information, contact:

Jobs Protection Office of the Ministry of Labour
2378 Holly Lane, Suite 202
Ottawa, Ontario K1V 7P1

Hotline: 1-888-998-9959
General Inquiry: (613) 260-8351
Fax: (613) 260-8369
E-mail: oqconstruction@mol.gov.on.ca

Official Contact for Ontario:
Mr. Bob Onyschuk
Director, Jobs Protection Office

Attachment 1

Appendix 1, Table 1 of the Agreement

	Quebec Title	Ontario Title	Interprovincial (IP) Red Seal Title
1	Électricien / Electrician (regulated under R-20 and F-5)	Electrician – construction and maintenance / Électricien – construction et entretien [ ** ]	Construction Electrician / Électricien (construction) Ont: IP only
2	Ferblantier / Tinsmith	Sheet metal worker / Tôlier [ ** ]	Sheet metal worker / Ferblantier Ont: IP only
3	Frigoriste ou Tuyauteur – spécialité du frigoriste / Refrigeration mechanic or pipe-fitter – specialty of refrigeration	Refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic / Mécanicien en réfrigération et en climatisation [ ** ]	Refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic / Mécanicien de réfrigération et d'air climatisé Ont: IP only
4	Tuyauteur – spécialité du plombier / Pipe-fitter – specialty of plumber (regulated under R-20 and F-5)	Plumber / Plombier	Plumber / Plombier
5	Tuyauteur – spécialité du poseur d'appareils de chauffage / Pipe- fitter – specialty of the heating systems installer (regulated under R-20 and F-5)	Steamfitter / Monteur de tuyaux de vapeur [ ** ]	Steamfitter – Pipe-fitter / Monteur d'appareils de chauffage Ont: IP only
6	Opérateur de grue automotrice – sceau rouge	Mobile Crane Operator (red seal) [ ** ]	Grue automotrice sceau rouge/ Mobile Crane Operator (red seal) Ont: IP only
7	Briqueteur-maçon / Bricklayer-mason	Brick and stone mason / Briqueteur-Maçon [ ** ]	Bricklayer / Briqueteur- Maçon Ont: IP only
8	Calorifugeur / Insulator	Insulator – (heat and frost) / Poseur de matériaux isolants[ *** ]	Not Applicable (N/A)
9	Carreleur / Tile setter	Terrazzo, tile and marble craft / Métier de carrelage [ *** ]	N/A
10	Charpentier-menuisier / Carpenter-joiner	General carpenter / Charpentier-menuisier Général [ ** ]	Carpenter / Charpentier Ont: IP only
11	Chaudronnier / Boilermaker	Construction Boilermaker / Chaudronnier de construction[ ** ]	Boilermaker / Chaudronnier Ont: IP only
12	Cimentier-applicateur / Cement finisher	Cement mason (includes cement finisher) / Cimentier (y compris le finisseur de béton)	N/A
13	Couvreur / Roofer	Roofer / Couvreur [ ** ]	Roofer / Couvreur Ont: IP only
14	Ferrailleur / Reinforcing steel erector	Reinforcing rodworker / Monteur de barres d'armature	N/A
15	Mécanicien de chantier / Millwright	Construction Millwright / Mécanicien – monteur de Construction	Industrial mechanic (millwright) / Mécanicien industriel (de chantier)
16	Mécanicien de machines lourdes / Heavy equipment mechanic	Heavy duty equipment mechanic / Mécanicien d'équipement lourd [ ** ]	Heavy duty equipment technician/ technicien d'équipement lourd Ont: IP only
17	Mécanicien en protection – incendie ou tuyauteur – spécialité de poseur de gicleurs / Pipe-fitter – specialty of the fire protection mechanic or pipe-fitter – specialty of the sprinkler installer	Sprinkler and fire protection installer / Installateur de systèmes de protection contre les Incendies [ ** ]	Sprinkler system installer / Poseur de gicleurs Ont: IP only
18	Monteur d'acier de structure / Structural steel erector	Ironworker / Ferronnier	N/A Ont: IP only as ironworker
19	Peintre / Painter	Painter decorator (commercial and residential) / Peintre-décorateur – secteur commercial et résidentiel [ ** ]	Painter and decorator / Peintre et décorateur Ont: IP only
20	Plâtrier / Plasterer	Drywall finisher and plasterer/ Finisseur de murs secs & plâtrier [ **** ]	N/A
21	Poseur de revêtements souples / Resilient flooring layer	Floor covering installer / Installateur de revêtements de sol [ ** ]	Floor covering installer / Poseur de revêtements souples Ont: IP only
22	Poseur de systèmes intérieurs / Interior systems installer	Lather (Drywall, acoustic and lathing applicator) / Poseur de lattes [ ** ]	N/A Ont: IP only
23	Serrurier de bâtiment / Ornamental ironworker	Ironworker / Ferronnier (Note: Ontario trade is not divided into 2 branches)	N/A
24	Vitrier et monteur mécanicien (code 310) / Setter mechanic (Glazier) (code 310)	Glazier and Metal Mechanic / Vitrier et mécanicien des métaux  [ ** ]	Glazier / Vitrier (Ontario only) Ont: IP only
25	Opérateur de pelles mécaniques / Shovel operator	Excavator operator-Branch 2 of Heavy equipment operator / Opérateur d'excavatrice-Division 2 d'opérateur d'équipement lourd [ *** ]	N/A
26	Mécanicien d'ascenseur	Elevating Devices Mechanic (EDM-A)	N/A

Attachment 2

Activities of Trades

In addition to recognizing activities of trades listed in "ANNEXE C" of Règlement sur la formation professionelle de la main-d'œuvre dans l'industrie de la construction [R-20, r. 6.2], Quebec will recognize an Ontario Trade Activity Card for the following activities of trades:

1.  Trades with activities that are part of the carpentry trade as well as being stand-alone trades.

Drywall, Acoustic and Lathing Applicator: (Part of Carpentry--interior finishing)

Installation of drywall
Installation of lath
Installation of thermal and sound insulation

Floor Covering Installer: (Part of carpentry--parquet flooring)

Installation and repair of carpet & pads
Installation and repair of wood floors

General Carpenter:

Framing
Building stairs

Glazier: (Part of carpentry for most activities excluding curtain walls)

Installation of curtain wall systems 

Roofer: (Part of carpentry: framing--installation of trusses, dormers, roof coverings)

Retrofit, repair and resurface
Installation of single-ply roofing

Taper and Plasterer: (Part of carpentry: interior finishing)

Installation of cornices (hand-made or pre-fab) and ornamental plaster moulds

2. Trades with some activities in Schedule "C" of R-20

Painter and Decorator:

Brush and roll painting
Spray painting surfaces
Hanging wall coverings

3. Trades with no activities in Schedule "C" of R-20

Brick and Stone Mason:

Laying of concrete blocks
Building/repairing chimneys
Building/repairing fireplaces
Installation of prefabricated masonry panels

Cement mason:

Concrete finishing
Waterproofing & restoration prep work

Cement Finisher or Bricklayer:

Grouting
Sandblasting

Terrazzo, Tile and Marble Craft:

Installation of tiles
Installation of terrazzo
Installation of marble and granite indoor

Heavy Equipment Operator: 

Tractor Loader Backhoe Operator
Dozer Operator

Note:  Activities of trades listed above may be part of a different trade in Quebec.

4 Schedule "C" of R-20, Activities of Trades

Carpenter-joiner

Forms
Installation of doors and windows
Parquet flooring
Installation of prefabricated coverings
Installation of cupboards and other workshop prepared or manufactured items
Installation of gypsum board
Installation of piles

Tinsmith

Installation of gutters
Installation of prefabricated coverings

Painter

Pointing and filling joints  (gypsum board)

Plasterer

Pointing and filling joints (gypsum board)

Interior Systems Installer

Installation of gypsum board