How IBEW Members Can Take Advantage of Quebec’s Construction Boom

The construction industry in Quebec had a record-breaking year in 2025, and work isn’t expected to slow down in the months ahead.

With that in mind, IBEW travelers to the province are reminded of its unique certification process for construction workers.

“There are many opportunities for our brothers and sisters there, but they must follow the provincial government’s procedures to be eligible to work,” First District International Vice President Russ Shewchuk said.

Unlike in other areas of Canada, the provincial government directly oversees the construction industry in Quebec. All employers and unions report to the Commission de la Construction du Quebec, or CCQ, a government agency, and anyone looking to work in the province must receive clearance from it first.

A little patience pays off handsomely. Wages are some of the highest in the country due to the robust construction scene and shortage of skilled construction workers.

The commission reported 216 million hours of work in 2025, surpassing its own prediction of 211.5 million hours, according to the Canadian Press. Some construction companies have placed ads online with promises of up to $1,500 in signing bonuses.

However, upon arrival for work in the province, everyone is presented with a declaration paper from the CCQ asking the individual to declare what union they want to be represented by. IBEW members are reminded to choose the CPQMCI or International option when they register.

“We thank our IBEW members who are willing to travel and take advantage of these opportunities,” Shewchuk said. “Our aim is to ensure these members are familiar with and following the process so they remain in good standing with the IBEW Constitution.”

Construction wiremen, who are not registered electricians but can perform some lower-level electrical work, are also needed.

The construction boom in Quebec was originally driven by public infrastructure projects, such as hospitals and roads, coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

That work continues in many places, but other projects are now taking off. Montreal is rolling out a new light rail line, and work is expected to begin soon on a $1.2 billion expansion of the Port of Montreal.

Quebec is also getting in on the data center explosion. Microsoft is building one in the Quebec City suburbs, and the province is considered one of the best areas for data centers in Canada because of an abundance of hydroelectric power.

Montreal Local 568 Business Manager Guy Fournier said the province is going through a construction boom that’s unprecedented in recent history.

Problems arose when at least one major contractor told travelers what union to join before starting work, Fournier said. Not only is that illegal under provincial law, but it also might have inadvertently caused some IBEW members to sign up for another union.

Members represented by any other union are in violation of the IBEW’s constitution.

“This is new for us,” Fournier said. “In the next 10, 15 or 20 years, there’s going to be a lot of work in the province. We will be needing travelers. The important thing is we do not want IBEW members signing up with another union.”

Shewchuk appreciates that Canadian members need to make the best decisions for themselves and their loved ones, especially considering that work is now plentiful in most other areas of the country. Some might not want to leave their own jurisdictions.

But for those who do, Quebec is a good landing spot. Local union leaders and members with questions about the process are urged to contact the Local 568 office in Montreal, which has both the inside and outside construction jurisdiction throughout the province, for further guidance and clarification.