Construction
An industry built on solid foundations
Québec’s harsh and intense climate has shaped the robust character of its construction industry and led to the development of a unique set of skills.
Profile
- 45,000 general and specialized contractors.
- 230,000 direct jobs monthly, i.e., 1 out of 20 jobs in Québec.
- 3,500 manufacturers of building materials and supplies.
- Nearly 500 architectural and engineering firms as of 2009 .
- Over 2,300 wholesalers and distributors of building materials and supplies.
- $46.6 billion in capital investments in construction (public and private sector) in 2010.
- 14% of Québec’s GDP.
Strenghts
- Québec expertise:
- building envelopes
- mechanical systems
- prefabricated buildings
- complex steel structures
- major construction projects such as hydroelectric dams, aluminium smelters and road infrastructures
- Ability to build year-round.
The Québec construction industry boasts a number of:
- internationally renowned engineering consulting firms,
- architectural firms,
- construction companies,
- building materials manufacturers,
that export their expertise and products around the world.
With highly competitive product pricing and high quality standards on the one hand, and integrated end-to-end services including design, project management, construction, operations and financing on the other, the Québec construction industry has a great deal to offer.
Getting results by thinking creatively
The emergence of the “green building” concept has prompted the construction industry to develop new approaches and more environmentally friendly and energy-efficient building materials and supplies, including insulation, membranes, siding, high-performance windows, heat recovery ventilators and geothermal heating systems—all of which have helped cement Québec’s reputation for excellence in this sector.
Getting ahead by building on existing strengths
The construction industry is backed by several specialized research centres:
- Research Center on Concrete Infrastructures (CRIB)
- Centre for Expertise and Research on Infrastructures in Urban Areas (CERIU)
- Centre d’études et de recherches pour l’avancement de la construction au Québec (CERACQ)
- Concordia University Centre for Building Studies
- Centre d’expertise sur la construction commerciale en bois (CECOBOIS)
- Canada’s Wood Products Research Institute (FPInnovations – Forintek)
As well as various public-sector organizations that oversee building, employment and safety standards, including:
