The Reinforced Building Act: Obtaining And Retaining A Contractor's Licence Has Become More Difficult

On September 4, the Building Act became much stricter regarding the conditions for obtaining and retaining a contractor's licence. It now gives broad powers to Quebec's construction regulator, the Régie du bâtiment, requiring stakeholders in the construction industry to be pure as the driven snow.

The Act to amend the Building Act and other legislative provisions mainly to give effect to certain Charbonneau Commission recommendations (the "Act") came into force on September 4. Directly mirroring the recommendations of the Charbonneau Commission, the Act increases the surveillance and inspection powers of the Régie du bâtiment (the "Board") in order to root out collusion and corruption in the construction industry.