Renovation and residential construction can resume, under certain conditions

Construction and renovation for homes that were due to be delivered by July 31, and only these, will be able to resume as of Monday, April 20. This is what the Quebec government announced earlier this week, specifying that these are "essential services".

This authorization covers construction and renovation, as well as the surveying and inspection of the buildings covered by this partial lifting of the prohibitions.

Non-urgent work in a dwelling that continues to be occupied by the same tenant remains prohibited. In recent weeks, CORPIQ members have reported receiving visits from police officers in dwellings where some non-urgent work was being done.

CORPIQ welcomes this announcement, which should help avoid a housing crisis. Indeed, while the vacancy rate is currently only 1.5%, thousands of units will soon have to accommodate tenants with signed leases. In addition, thousands of other tenants, who have not renewed their leases, are counting on the timely delivery of their next unit, condo or house, so that they will not find themselves without a roof this summer.

Although optimism is back, the delay accumulated over the past month and the pace at which work will resume could have an impact on housing delivery schedules. CORPIQ will closely monitor the situation. Above all, we will ensure that landlords cannot be held responsible for extraordinary expenses beyond their control if tenants do not leave their unit on the scheduled date, thus harming the next tenant. The obligation under the Civil Code of Quebec to deliver a dwelling in good condition and to provide for its peaceful enjoyment would be compromised.

Strict measures to protect workers

In collaboration with its partners, CNESST has published a list of preventive measures that must be respected on construction sites to prevent workers from contracting COVID-19. Failing this, a CNESST inspector could require the closure of the worksite until corrective measures are taken by the employer. Violators are likely to receive a statement of offence.

• Employers must interview their workers daily, and on a confidential basis, then send them home if they have symptoms (cough, fever, breathing difficulties, sudden loss of smell) or if they are in contact with a person with COVID-19 or if they have been returning from a trip abroad in the last two weeks.
• A social distance of 2 meters must be respected between workers at the arrival on the work site, breaks, meals and leaving the work site. The occupancy of vehicles used for the transport of workers should be reduced by 50%. The presence of large number of workers in the same space at the same time should be avoided and a distance of at least 2 meters should be maintained. It is recommended that the same people remain in the same team. If social distancing is not possible for a short period of time due to the work to be performed, the worker must always avoid touching his face and must cough into his elbow.
• During emergency work (plumbing, electricity, etc.) at a contaminated site, a social distance of at least 2 meters from a contaminated person must be maintained. It is important to wash your hands and tools when leaving the workplace.
• CNESST also sets out specific standards concerning the presence of toilets on work sites (depending on the number of workers), the type of toilets and their cleaning frequency, access to a sink, soap and a dryer or paper towels.
• The cleaning of the dining room (for the larger construction sites where such a space is mandatory), and the cleaning of tools are also covered by the measures.

Finally, criteria are applicable to allow the return of a worker who has been affected by COVID-19. A period of at least 14 days must have elapsed since the onset of the disease in its acute phase; there must be an absence of acute symptoms for 24 hours (excluding a residual cough that may persist) and an absence of fever for 48 hours (without taking antipyretics).

For its part, the APCHQ has developed a toolbox (in French only) to help its members reopen construction sites.