Construction site monitoring: is Quebec finally ready to move?

Press release

Montreal, August 28, 2024 — The Government of Quebec recently announced a strengthening of quality control practices for new constructions, particularly in divided co-ownership, by the organization Garantie de construction résidence (GCR).

Yesterday morning, Me Yves Joli-Coeur, a distinguished lawyer specializing in co-ownership and president of the Regroupement des gestionnaires et copropriétaires du Québec (RGCQ), shared his analysis of this announcement during an interview with Patrick Masbourian on ICI Première, then on the microphone of Mr. Zappa, on LCN, in the evening.

In a context marked by years of challenges for the quality of constructions, GCR is committed to improving its controls by introducing additional inspections on new constructions. Me Joli-Coeur described this initiative as a necessary “culture change,” while highlighting a major gap in the protection of Quebec consumers. "In Quebec, we live in a state where owners of large buildings are left without real protection. This is an unacceptable reality for consumers, who are too often abandoned to their fate when faced with serious construction defects," he said.

Me Joli-Coeur expressed his concerns about the existence of two classes of consumers, denouncing the lack of rigor in terms of quality control for condo owners in large towers. He calls for an expansion of the legislative framework to guarantee protection equivalent to that offered to owners of smaller constructions. This increased protection is important for co-owners who often find themselves faced with problems of poor construction.

GCR, the organization responsible for guaranteeing the execution of the legal and contractual obligations of contractors towards the beneficiaries of new residential constructions, is governed by the Regulation respecting the guarantee plan for new residential buildings. Its mandate aims to improve the quality of residential construction, with a board of directors comprising professionals in engineering, architecture and law, as well as representatives of government agencies and consumer groups.

Find interviews with Me Joli-Coeur:

- on ICI Radio-Canada

- on LCN

To learn more about the RGCQ's demands, consult our complete file on construction site monitoring.

To access the official press release, click here