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Quebec’s unique construction holiday begins Sunday, giving most of the province’s construction workers a summer vacation.
This year, the annual vacation starts on July 21 and runs though Aug. 3.
Once enshrined by law, the two-week paid vacation is now guaranteed in construction industry collective agreements that apply across the industry, the Commission de la construction du Québec said, and has expanded beyond the construction sector, with around a quarter of the province’s workforce expected to take the vacation.
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Here are some facts and figures about the only-in-Quebec event:
Who gets the holiday?
More than 193,000 construction workers in Quebec are receiving vacation pay this summer, according to the construction commission, including almost 19,000 on Montreal Island; 51,000 in Laval, the Laurentides and Lanaudière regions; along with almost 41,000 in the Montérégie region south and east of the city.
In total, the province’s construction workers will receive $647 million in vacation pay this summer, though not all industry workers will get the holiday.
Around 80 per cent of construction workers will be off during the holiday, but civil engineering and some road work will continue and there are exceptions for emergency work, repairs, maintenance and renovations.
When did it start?
The holiday was established by government decree in 1970, with workers taking their first summer vacation in 1971. While it’s no longer legally mandated, it has become an accepted part of collective agreements in the construction industry.
What it’s like on the road?
With so many people travelling, the holiday is linked to a high number of vehicle crashes. The Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec says that an average of 19 people die on Quebec roads during the two weeks, while another 83 are seriously injured. An average of 1,466 more suffer minor injuries on the province’s roads, the public auto insurer said, adding that the main causes of death and injury include fatigue, impaired driving, distractions and speed.
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The SAAQ is encouraging people who plan on driving long distances to stop and rest along the way, saying that sleep is the only solution for fatigue. It’s also encouraging people to avoid drinking and driving.
For drivers who plan to head south, the Canada Border Services Agency is encouraging people to “plan ahead, expect delays and check border wait times.” Mondays during holiday long weekends tend to have the longest waits, the agency said in a statement, suggesting that people cross during non-peak times, like early in the morning.
What does it mean for other industries?
The holiday is a major event for Quebec’s tourism industry, with local attractions using it to promote themselves and some airlines offering construction-holiday vacation packages.
But it has a mixed impact on restaurants, according to Quebec’s restaurant association.
A recent survey by the Association Restauration Québec found that for 20 per cent of restaurants that responded, the two-week period is one of the most lucrative times of the year. Another 22 per cent said it was more lucrative than normal. However, 37 per cent said the construction holiday was less lucrative than other periods.
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