Ontario construction workers seeking employment in Quebec must have either their Ontario certification; or validation of their experience in a trade or specialized field plus proof of health and safety training, before registering with Quebec authorities.

With the exception of the small residential renovation sector, all construction workers must register with the Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ) in order to obtain a card showing their union membership. Additional documents may be required, such as proof of identification, T4 slip or pay stub, proof of residency such as a gas or telephone bill and proof of completion of a health and safety training course.

Ontario construction workers

Ontario construction workers belong to one of the following categories:

  1. Certified in a compulsory footnote 1 or voluntary tradefootnote 2
  2. Registered apprentice in a compulsory or voluntary trade.
  3. Uncertified, with
    1. experience in all aspects of a voluntary trade; or
    2. experience in some aspects of a voluntary trade

    (Refer to fact sheeton Activities of Trades.)

  4. Certified workers or trainees in a trade regulated by the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA).
  5. Workers seeking a job in one of Quebec's 40 semi-skilled occupations.
  6. Uncertified workers and contractors who perform specialized construction work (install, repair or maintain products where a manufacturer's warranty is conditional upon being trained by a manufacturer or approved trainer).

    (Refer to fact sheet on Specialized Construction Work)

1. Certified workers in compulsory or voluntary trades

  1. Ontario construction workers who have a Provincial or Interprovincial [IP] (Red Seal) Certificate of Qualification from the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, (MTCU) in any Ontario compulsory or voluntary trade recognized in the 2006 Ontario-Quebec Construction Labour Mobility Agreement may work in Quebec with or without an Ontario employer.

    (Appendix 1, Table 1 of the Agreement lists recognized trades and is attached to this fact sheet.)

  2. Ontario workers holding a Certificate of Apprenticeship after completion of training in a recognized voluntary trade for which Ontario has no Provincial or Interprovincial Certification exam may work in Quebec as a journeyperson.
  3. Ontario workers with a provisional confirmation of qualification from MTCU in a recognized voluntary trade may work in Quebec as a last period apprentice.
  4. Ontario workers with a TSSA Certificate may also work in Quebec. Refer to section 4 of this fact sheet.

Note: All Ontario workers who hold one of the trade certificates referred to in this Section meet Quebec's health and safety training requirement. These certificates are referred to on this fact sheet as "Ontario certificates" unless otherwise specified.

2. Registered apprentices

Ontario construction workers with an Apprenticeship Identification Card in a compulsory or voluntary trade have to prove completion of a recognized health and safety training course upon registration with the CCQ.

(Appendix 5 of the Agreement lists recognized occupational health and safety training courses and providers and is attached to this fact sheet.)

Registered apprentices must also obtain from MTCU documented proof of the number of completed hours in their apprenticeship program. The CCQ requires this official document upon registration in order to determine the applicable period of apprenticeship and corresponding wages.

3. Uncertified workers

Uncertified Ontario construction workers who have experience in all aspects of a voluntary trade and who wish to work in that trade in Quebec may apply to the MTCU to write their trade exam in order to obtain their Ontario or IP Certificate. Such workers may also become certified in Quebec by fulfilling the requirements set by the CCQ.

Uncertified workers with experience in some aspects of a voluntary trade, and employed by an Ontario contractor seeking work in Quebec, may be evaluated by the MTCU in order to obtain a Trade Activity Card from the Jobs Protection Office (JPO).

(Refer to fact sheet on Activities of Trades.)

4. Trades regulated by the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA)

Ontario workers with a TSSA Certificate of Qualification must register with the CCQ if they carry out construction work in Quebec.

They may also have to present their Ontario Certificate(s) to the Ministère de l'Emploi et de la Solidarité Sociale (MESS), or to the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) for work that involves boilers and presssure vessels, appliances, elevating devices, or equipment using gas, propane or petroleum.

Apprentices have to provide training records and proof of completion of a recognized health and safety course.

5. Access to occupations in Quebec

Ontario construction workers seeking employment in one of the 40 semi-skilled occupations in Quebec have to apply for a CCQ Occupation Card (or a CCQ card showing union membership if they already have their Ontario certification) by presenting:

  • either their Ontario trade certification, or
  • proof (T4s or pay stubs) of 750 or more hours of work experience in an occupation, or
  • proof of occupational health and safety training, if the applicant has less than 750 hours of work experience.

(Appendix 4 of the Agreement lists occupations that currently exist in Quebec's construction industry and is attached to this fact sheet.)

6. Specialized construction work

Uncertified workers and contractors who perform specialized construction work should refer to Specialized Construction Work for information on how and when to obtain a Specialized Construction Work Card.

Construction work is 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.

Further information

For further information regarding the application process to write an Ontario or IP trade exam, to be assessed in recognized trades activities, or to obtain written confirmation of apprenticeship hours already completed, contact:

Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities
Ottawa District Office
347 Preston Street, 3rd, Floor
Ottawa, Ontario K1S 3J4

Tel: (613) 731-7100
Toll free: 1-877-221-1220
Fax: (613) 731-4160

For further information on TSSA certification, contact:

Technical Standards and Safety Authority
3300 Bloor Street West, 14th Floor
Centre Tower
Toronto, Ontario M8X 2X4

Tel: (416) 734-3300
Toll Free: 1-877-682-8772
Fax: (416) 231-4903

For general assistance or information, contact:

Jobs Protection Office of the Ministry of Labour
347 Preston Street, 4th Floor, Suite 430
Ottawa, Ontario K1S 3J4

Tel: 613-288-3847
Toll-free: 1-888-998-9959
Fax: 613-727-2900
E-mail: Oqconstruction@ontario.ca

This fact sheet is provided for your information and convenience only. It is not a legal document. For further information contact the Jobs Protection Office of the Ministry of Labour.

Attachment 1

See Appendix 1, table 1 of the agreement for matched construction trades.

Attachment 2

See Appendix 4 of the agreement for requirements to work in occupations in Quebec and trades in Ontario.

Attachment 3

See Appendix 5 of the agreement for how Quebec recognizes Ontario occupational health and safety training.