It’s one of the many peculiarities of Quebec: during the summer heatwave, when everyone wants to be on vacation, practically the entire construction industry and a good part of the rest of Quebec close their doors for two weeks.
Sunday will officially mark the start of the annual construction holiday, a 50-year-old tradition unique to the province that has a major impact on the region’s tourism industry — and its roads.
Here are five things to know about construction holidays.
1 — It started more than half a century ago
In 1970, the Quebec government imposed two weeks of summer vacation on construction workers throughout the province. The decree came into effect in the summer of 1971.
“This ensures better coordination on construction sites and between the different trades that often have to be present at the same time to maintain the pace of work,” explains Johanne Brunet, public affairs advisor at the Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ). “This allows for better work synergy.”
Nowadays, the two weeks of compulsory leave are included in collective agreements in the construction sector.
2 — Many people will go on vacation
This year, nearly 200,000 construction workers will be on vacation from July 21 to August 3 and will receive more than $647 million in vacation pay, according to the CCQ.
The two-week break also has a ripple effect on the entire economy. Mme Brunet mentions that approximately 28% of the population of Quebec would take vacations during the construction holidays, and more than half of them would spend their free time in the province.
A 2023 Quebec government survey found that Quebec City and the neighboring Charlevoix region were the most popular tourist destinations for people traveling within the province.
3 — It’s partly a security issue
The two-week vacation comes at the hottest time of year, M.me Brunet: “With climate change, it’s increasingly a health and safety issue,” she says. “It’s to give workers a break, because now, increasingly, it’s not just those two weeks that are hot.”
4 — There are exceptions
Around 80% of the construction workforce will be on holiday, but roadwork, civil engineering, emergency repairs and renovations will be able to continue.
Johanne Brunet indicates that the construction industry in Quebec is affected by a persistent labour shortage and that workers have been working more than 200 million hours in each of the last two years.
There is a second annual construction holiday in the winter, which runs from Christmas to New Year’s Day.
5 — Roads can be dangerous
With all these people going on vacation at the same time, the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec is warning of an increase in car accidents at this time of year. Every summer, during the construction vacation, an average of 19 people are killed on the road, according to the agency. Some 83 other people are seriously injured and 1,466 people are slightly injured.