Amendments to the Act

Transcription

1 Published for the employers in the construction industry February 2012 Vol. 42, n o 1 Amendments to the Act Last December 2, the Government of Québec sanctioned the new provisions of Bill 33. Turn to page 2 for details regarding the enforcement of some of these provisions. It s time to register to pass the course Connaissance générale de l industrie de la construction (CCGIC) You know someone who wishes to pass the course Connaissance générale de l industrie de la construction? Remind him that it s time to register! This year, the registration period will be held from the 6th to the 17 th of February. The industry will need 443 graduates in one or the other of the six specialized occupations. s To find out more, read the article on page 4. Envoi poste publcation enr. n New Québec sales tax Applicable to the monthly report for January The Québec sales tax (TVQ) was increased to 9.5% on January 1, You must take this change into account when you declare the hours worked on your monthly report for the period beginning on January 1. A payment covering this new tax and the usual remittances must be included with your monthly report for January, to be forwarded to the CCQ at the latest on February 15. l A face-lift for Bâtir With the coming of the new year, we got the urge to revamp the layout and graphics of our Bâtir. Also, we wanted to make it more dynamic and contemporary. What s our excuse for this face-lift? The 25 th anniversary of the CCQ. It was on January 1, 1987, that the Office de la construction du Québec (OCQ) officially became the Commission de la construction du Québec. l

2 Adoption of Bill 33: Will it have an impact on your business? Last December 2, the Government of Québec sanctioned the provisions of Bill 33, the Act to eliminate union placement and improve the operation of the construction industry. What impacts will this act and coming changes have on your business? Over the next few months, and on a regular basis, the CCQ will notify you in more detail regarding the various changes that will specifically concern you. Here are a few details as regards the enforcement of a number of provisions of Act 33 that specially concern you. Who refers the workers you need? The articles of Act 33 bearing on the subject of worker referrals are not yet in force and the terms of the new framework for worker referral services are not yet defined. For the moment, the various worker referral services, including those offered by certain union associations to workers and companies, as well as the one that the CCQ makes available to companies, may still be offered. In the event of a labour shortage, you may contact the CCQ at As to worker referral services, you can benefit from the services already offered by the CCQ through its online services at by telephone at , or simply by dropping in at one of its regional offices. You can also continue to benefit from various referral services implemented by the different union and management associations. Indeed, Act R-20 already provides a legislative framework that prohibits all acts of intimidation or discrimination, including those based on union allegiance. You are a witness or a victim of an infraction to this framework and you wish to lodge a complaint? Visit our website at to obtain the details of the procedure to follow. A weekly report on the candidates referred by the union associations Until the coming into force of the new rules governing worker referrals, the union and management associations are held to transmitting to the CCQ a weekly report listing the demands for referrals as well as the names of the candidates referred to companies. You wish to benefit from in-house upgrade training services? Here s how. Act 33 has maintained the mission of the training funds in the area of occupational upgrade training of the workers. In order to ensure their sustainability and to exclude them from issues linked to sector-based collective agreement negotiations, the CCQ is now in charge of their management. The service offer in the areas of occupational upgrading of workers and in-house upgrade training remains unchanged. In fact, the union and management partners will continue to play a leading role in the use of these funds in accordance with the role of the Comité sur la formation professionnelle dans l industrie de la construction (CFPIC) of the CCQ, a committee that has brought together the union and management associations for 25 years. You have a request concerning the training of your workers? You can continue to transmit your needs as usual, namely by calling the Infoperfectionnement line at And if you are a member of the company or have a member of the company within your establishment? Act 33 provides that, moving forward, the member of the company of all companies registered at the CCQ and holding a license issued by the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) will have to report all of his or her work hours in the monthly report transmitted to the CCQ, without for all that having to meet the other obligations with regards to dues stemming from the collective agreements. Shortly, the CCQ will provide further information to the people concerned regarding the implementation of this obligation. Stay on the lookout for any changes to the services offered by regularly consulting our website at l 2

3 Income tax slips Follow the guide Inevitably, the income tax season follows the Christmas holidays, and this year is no exception to the rule. This is why the CCQ will forward to you, by February 28, a statement of contributions to the training funds. If you have not received this document by the beginning of March, you can obtain a duplicate through the CCQ s online services. The summary of contributions to the training funds will be useful to employers held to paying the contribution to the manpower skills development and recognition fund, that is those employers with a wage bill of more than 1 million dollars who must invest 1% of their wage bill in training activities. This document presents the sum of the contributions paid out to the Fonds de formation de l industrie de la construction (civil engineering and roads, industrial, institutional and commercial sectors) or to the Plan de formation des travailleurs du secteur résidentiel, by way of the monthly report transmitted to the CCQ. These contributions constitute qualified training expenditures in application of the Act to foster the development of manpower training. Statements forwarded to employees Workers in the industry will also receive their tax slips from the CCQ before February 28. As is the case for the employers, they will be able to obtain a duplicate through the CCQ s online services as early as March. Note that the deadline for transmitting tax reports to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and the Ministère du Revenu du Québec is midnight, on April 30. Depending on their situation, the workers will receive the following documents: The T4a slip (federal) is transmitted to the employee who was insured or who has worked during the year. The same applies to the RL-22 slip (provincial), except that in this case, the premium indicated is considered as a qualified expenditure, a medical fee entitling to a tax credit for fees exceeding 3% of the net income. The T4 slip (federal) and RL-1 slip (provincial) are sent to the employee who received taxable sums following a claim or from the special compensation fund during the tax year. The T4a slip (federal) and RL-2 slip (provincial) are forwarded to the employees and surviving spouses who received a monthly benefit during the tax year. They are also sent to all those who received a lump sum for retirement during the year, in the form of a reimbursement by cheque. These statements are not forwarded to those who have transferred the lump sum directly into an RRSP. The T4a slip (federal) and RL-1 slip (provincial) are sent to the employees who received disability insurance benefits during the tax year. The T5 slip (federal) and RL-3 slip (provincial) are transmitted to the employees who received over $50.00 in interest on holiday and statutory holiday pay. Lastly, an attestation of dues paid out to a parity committee, which is identical for both levels of government, is transmitted to the employee who paid out an amount for one or several of the following elements: qualification examination, competency certificate, security clearance, registration and confirmation for the course Connaissance générale de l industrie de la construction (CCGIC). If this amount was not reimbursed by the employer, it can be deducted from the income or entitle to a tax credit for union, professional or other types of dues. l 3

4 Registration to pass the course Connaissance générale de l industrie de la construction (CCGIC) The registration period for the course Connaissance générale de l industrie de la construction will be held from the 6 th to the 17 th of February. In 2012, the construction industry will need a total of 443 graduates in one or the other of the following occupations: surveyor shotfirer-driller lineman diver welder pipe welder (high pressure) Should the number of registrations be greater than the number of estimated places for a given occupation, a random draw will determine those who will be permitted to pass the course. Diplomas recognized for purposes of registration to pass the CCGIC The following diplomas will be recognized to pass the CCGIC: Vocational studies diploma in drilling and blasting Vocational studies diploma in power line work Attestation of collegial studies in professional diving Vocational studies diploma in welding-assembly Attestation of vocational specialization in high-pressure welding Vocational studies diploma in surveying and topography Collegial studies diploma in civil engineering technology (221.BO) How to register to pass the course Those who wish to register to pass the course must complete the registration form Demande d inscription personne diplômée CCGIC 2012, and join to their application one or the other of the documents below attesting that they have successfully passed the study program. academic transcript apprenticeship transcript statement of competencies achievement record provisional certificate college studies transcript They must also join a registration fee of $10 to their registration form. In addition, the selected candidates must pay a 100-dollar training fee upon reception of the selection notice issued by the CCQ. The candidates who successfully pass the course Connaissance générale de l industrie de la construction (CCGIC) will automatically obtain a competency certificate-occupation if they can prove that they have also successfully passed the course Santé et sécurité générale sur les chantiers de construction. The forms required to register for the 2012 CCGIC are available at the CCQ s regional offices and on the CCQ s website at (go to the Competency certificates section, then click on Occupation ). It is also possible to obtain the form by contacting the CCQ s customer service counter at l See table on page 5. 4

5 Estimation of regional subcommittees Estimation of labour needs in occupations year 2012 Surveyor Shotfirerdriller Lineman Diver Welder Pipe welder (high presssure) All specialized occupations Abitibi-Témiscamingue Bas-Saint-Laurent Gaspésie Côte-Nord Estrie Greater Montréal Mauricie Bois-Francs Outaouais Québec City Saguenay Lac-Saint-Jean Holders of a college diploma in civil engineering technology troughout the province Total 157* New year, new habits We ve made it to 2012! Don t forget to enter the new year on the cheques you send to us. As you may well expect, this type of error causes delays in the payment of amounts due to the CCQ, since we must then return the cheques to you. l 5

6 Toward a sixteenth year of growth Over 160,000 workers covered by the collective agreements in the construction industry are expected to be working on the construction sites in 2012, while they numbered 85,000 in In 2012, investments in construction are expected to be more than 48 billion dollars. In comparison, these investments totalled 16 billion dollars in Thus, construction continues to be one of the most dynamic industries in Québec. In 2011, 155 million hours were worked on the construction sites, a rise of 8% over Almost all sectors achieved major gains, with the residential sector being the only one to experience a slight fallback. Civil engineering and roadwork (+3%) In 2012, civil engineering and roadwork will grow for the thirteenth consecutive year. A rise of 3% is expected, which should translate into 37 million hours worked. Although the fiscal year signals the end of the Québec Infrastructure Plan, the volume of work should not slow down on roadwork and infrastructure sites. The multiplication throughout Québec of windmill farm sites will consolidate the vigour of works linked to electricity production, including those at the La Romaine hydroelectric project. Regional activity Variation in hours worked Region 2011 January-September 2012 Forecast Bas-Saint-Laurent Gaspésie 30% 3% Saguenay Lac-Saint-Jean 20% 14% Québec City 5% 4% Mauricie Bois-Francs 2% 9% Estrie 4% -5% Metropolitan Montréal 7% 2% Outaouais 11% -5% Abitibi-Témiscamingue -9% -3% Baie-James -28% -46% Côte-Nord 18% 17% Whole of Québec 7% 3% Industrial construction (+15%) The revival of the industrial sector seems to be well underway. Demand for raw materials is regaining vigour, and numerous major mine projects are expected to be launched in the framework of the Plan Nord. Furthermore, modernization and expansion projects have been relaunched at the aluminum plants. In fact, several multi-year projects have already begun. In 2012, the intensification of activity in industrial construction will result in a rise in activity of 15%, thus bringing the volume of work to 15 million hours. Institutional and commercial construction (+4%) Activity in the institutional and commercial construction sector will increase thanks to major institutional projects, while construction sites for Montréal s university hospital centres will be at the height of their activity. Commercial construction will also be growing, especially in terms of office space and sports and cultural facilities. The coming year therefore promises to be strong. With 77 million hours worked, the institutional and commercial sector will post an increase of 4% in Residential construction (-6%) Since 2011, the residential sector has been posting a volume of construction activity that is more compatible with demographic trends; this should continue in Activity in the residential sector should drop by 6%, resulting in a total of 30.0 million hours worked. Activity by region According to the CCQ s forecast, activity should continue to increase on construction sites in most regions of Québec in Côte-Nord, which led all regions in 2011, will continue posting strong growth thanks to work at the La Romaine hydroelectric complex. A 17% increase in activity is expected in the region. Saguenay Lac-Saint- Jean will follow with a rise of 14% due to Continued on page 7. 6

7 Rio Tinto Alcan s AP60 plant construction site. Growth in activity will also be notable in the Mauricie Bois-Francs (+9%) and Québec City (+4%) regions. The civil engineering and roadwork as well as the institutional and commercial sectors will be particularly vigorous in these regions. After an exceptional year, the Bas-Saint-Laurent Gaspésie region will return to a more moderate growth of 3%. In the Greater Montréal region, the volume of work is expected to increase by 2%. Favourable prospects until 2015 The future looks promising for the construction industry, which is preparing for a number of years of intense activity. In the medium term, the CCQ foresees a scenario of almost continuous growth. In fact, by 2015, the number of hours worked may rise to almost 170 million hours. l Hours worked (in millions) Sector e 2012 f Total 143,9 155,0 159,0 Variation 8% 8% 3% Civil engineering and roadwork 33,3 36,0 37,0 Variation 11% 8% 3% Industrial 11,9 13,0 15,0 Variation 15% 9% 15% Institutional and commercial 65,9 74,0 77,0 Variation 3% 12% 4% Résidential 32,7 32,0 30,0 Variation 11% -2% -6% e = estimated f = forecast Mobile points of service The towns to be visited in February The CCQ has set up mobile points of service in order to accommodate the workers and employers who live several hundred kilometres away from its regional offices and who wish to meet with a member of the CCQ team. To find out which towns will be visited over the months to come, you are invited to refer to our website at l 7

8 The present document is produced solely for information purposes. Only the Act respecting labour relations, vocational training and manpower management in the construction industry, its regulations and the collective agreements in force in the construction industry, have legal value. The male gender is occasionally used for ease of reading only. In all cases, the text refers equally to men and women. Bâtir is a monthly publication intended for the employers of the construction industry. Published by: Direction des communications Commission de la construction du Québec C. P. 2030, succ. Youville Montréal (Québec) H2P 0B1 Graphic design: oblik.ca Page layout: Danièle Bordeleau Translation: Le Marché de l écriture inc. Legal Deposit: Library and Archives Canada ISSN: French copy available on request. PU (1202)