Quebec launches construction training offensive
By Adam Freill
Construction LabourFour new short courses, more training openings and scholarships part of $300 million training program.
(Photo: Oleksii Liskonih/iStock via Getty Images.)
The Quebec government is launching a construction training offensive aimed at training between 4,000 and 5,000 additional people for careers in four high-demand construction trades, including heavy equipment operators and carpenters.
In a media event, Quebec Premier François Legault outlined the plan, which involves the creation of short-term training programs that will range from four to six months to train people looking to become carpenters, heavy equipment operators, tinsmiths and refrigeration engineers.
Anyone who has not been studying for at least one year and who meets the general admission conditions for study programs leading to a certificate of professional studies (AEP) in the included professions has until December 15 to register online. Training will begin in January 2024. Students will be eligible for a $750 per week stipend during the training.
Upon graduation, and under certain conditions, a scholarship ranging from $9,000 to $15,000 may be presented to students obtaining a vocational studies diploma (DEP). The same goes for those who will undertake these same training courses in November and December 2023.
In addition to the fast-training programs, the province plans to increase the training spaces available to students wishing to pursue a DEP in electricity or plumbing and heating, two training courses for which there are currently waiting lists.
“I am very proud to announce this major construction training offensive. We have ambitious projects to meet the needs of Quebecers, such as housing, schools and sports infrastructures, and it takes people to build all of that,” stated the premier. “If we want to reduce the labour deficit with qualified workers, we must go through training and make it more attractive.”
The cost of the programs is expected to be $300 million, and the government anticipates seeing graduates become available to employers in the summer of 2024.
“The Construction Training Offensive will allow us to train between 4,000 and 5,000 people in professions in high demand. These are attractive measures that we are putting in place to carry out a training blitz,” said Kateri Champagne Jourdain, Minister of Employment and Minister responsible for the Côte-Nord region. “Construction is a sector that offers stimulating careers that make it possible to build the Quebec of today and that of future generations. I invite Quebecers to register for these short-term training courses by December 15.”
