More than 150,000 construction workers will begin their summer vacation this Friday until August 6 inclusively, after a very busy year on construction sites.
Posted at 3:59 p.m.
“I can’t wait to pick up and get out of town. I’m leaving for two weeks on my woodlot in Saint-Côme. It’s a well-deserved rest”, says André Gagné, foreman met by The Press on a construction site in the heart of downtown Montreal.
He and his colleagues are all on their last shift and are looking forward to enjoying their two weeks of summer vacation, as has been the tradition since 1971.
“I stay in Quebec. We’re going to see my in-laws up north and go to the beach with my children,” enthuses Steve Blackburn, site superintendent, who doesn’t intend to restrict his activities despite the price of gas approaching two dollars.
These two weeks of vacation are more than welcome on the side of Chantal Bill, formwork laborer. “My job is very physical. I’m going to take that Relax with my two children,” she says, all smiles.
PHOTO MORGANE SHOCK, THE PRESS
Last day of work for Chantal Bill, just before the construction holidays.
About 80% of workers in the construction industry will be on vacation from July 22 until August 6 at midnight, or more than 150,000 workers and 20,000 employers.
The vast majority of construction sites in Quebec will therefore be closed during this period.
A busy year
The Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ) has sent nearly 182,000 vacation checks to construction workers in the province in recent weeks, for a total amount of more than $553 million.
This represents an increase of 10% compared to last summer, when a sum of 503 million was paid.
It should be noted that it is the employers who pay the CCQ monthly indemnities for statutory holidays and vacations, provided for in the collective agreements.
This variation is mainly explained by the upturn in 2021 in activity on construction sites.
In fact, 196.2 million hours were worked in the construction industry in 2021, which represents an increase of 21% compared to 2020, a year marked by site closures due to the pandemic.
This is the highest volume of activity recorded, surpassing the peak of 177 million hours, reached in 2019.
These data therefore reflect an increase in the number of workers as well as hours worked on construction sites.
In addition to the increase in activity, health and safety prevention officer Yves Bédard points out that the pandemic has given the industry a hard time, which is still feeling the consequences. “We live with significant constraints: the rise in the price of materials, the shortage of certain materials, not to mention the shortage of labour,” he lists.
PHOTO MORGANE SHOCK, THE PRESS
“Construction holidays always come at the right time! exclaims Yves Bédard.
The worker who was in charge of managing COVID-19 on the construction sites adds that it was very difficult for the workers to carry out their work with the sanitary restrictions, in particular because of the wearing of visors and masks in an environment often hot, dusty and stuffy.
Mr. Bédard believes that the holidays could not be better timed. “Everyone is happy to leave. I’m going to New Brunswick and Saguenay with my family. We’re going to drive several kilometers, so let’s just say I’m glad the gas isn’t $2.50,” he laughs.
Watch out for the roads and the heat
The Sûreté du Québec (SQ) will step up its operations on roads, trails and bodies of water during the construction holiday period, which is the time of year when the number of fatal and injured collisions is particularly high, according to the police force.
Remember that approximately one-third of Quebecers take time off during this period, which has the effect of considerably increasing travel on the road network.
Moreover, the organization Mobilité Montréal warns road users that major obstacles will be put in place during the weekend of July 22, particularly on Highway 25 and in the Louis-Hippolyte-La Fontaine tunnel towards south, on the Pie-IX bridge in both directions and on Highway 20 in Boucherville, at Boulevard De Montarville.
As for the weather, Environment Canada issued a heat alert for the Montreal metropolitan area on Friday.
The hot and humid weather will continue until Sunday evening with daytime humidity values between 34 and 39°C. The nights will remain uncomfortable with temperatures around 20 degrees Celsius.
Environment Canada issues a heat alert when very hot or humid conditions are expected to pose a high risk of illness, such as heat stroke and heat exhaustion.