In response to the significant labor shortage in the construction sector, the Quebec provincial government has decided to launch fast and paid training courses to better meet the sector's demands next summer.

Following the promises made by the François Legault government in recent months regarding these courses, their launch was confirmed yesterday at a press conference.

The conference was chaired by Legault himself, and was joined by Minister of Labor Jean Boulet, Minister of Employment Kateri Champagne Jourdain, and Minister of Education Bernard Drainville.

The government announced that fast and paid training will be offered starting January to qualify individuals interested in five of the construction trades most in need of labor: locksmithing, carpentry, excavator operation, heavy equipment operation, and refrigeration mechanics.

Interested individuals have until December 15 to register for one of the training courses, which range in duration from four to six months (500 to 700 hours) and at the end of which the student receives a Certificate of Vocational Studies (AEP).

Participants in these courses receive financial support of $750 per week.

The Coalition Avenir Québec government hopes to attract between 4,000 and 5,000 students to these training courses aimed at qualifying people who can then work on construction sites.

For his part, the premier said that “the needs have increased very significantly” due to the many current and future projects, from schools to roads to Hydro-Québec projects, the public electricity company in Quebec.

“There is a shortage of at least 6,500 construction workers” in Quebec, said Legault.

Not all the fast and paid training courses announced yesterday will be available in all regions of Quebec, but “each region will have at least one program leading to a Certificate of Vocational Studies,” Minister Drainville promised, and “there are many courses that will be offered in more than one region.”

Guillaume Houle, Public Affairs Officer at the Quebec Construction Association (ACQ), a group of employers, said the program launched by the government is “good news.”

According to him, “all means are good to attract labor (to the construction sector)” which had about 11,000 job openings last summer.

The government also said that students who will start studying in November 2023 in similar trades within programs leading to a Diploma of Vocational Studies (DEP) will receive, “under certain conditions,” a scholarship ranging from $9,000 to $15,000 upon graduation.

The mentioned diploma requires a longer study period than that required to obtain a Certificate of Vocational Studies (AEP).