The Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ) expresses optimism for the year 2009 whereas construction activity should equal last year’s performance. Important investments in public infrastructure which should reach 30 billion dollars between 2007 and 2012 will be the principal vitamins allowing to have another year of dynamic construction.
These investments at the level of public infrastructure particularly touch the network of roads, public transportation, municipal infrastructures, health and education. « Investing in public infrastructure and in renovation of real estate capital is a winning strategy, in the short and in the long term, allowing the creation of jobs and economic growth. The construction industry cannot but enjoy every proposition aiming to increase or to accelerate investments », André Ménard, the president of the CCQ, has declared.
Hydro-Québec would also increase its investments during next year with important projects such as the La Romaine complex which would add itself to the one of Eastmain-la-Rupert-La Sarcelle. According to the economists of the CCQ, the number of hours worked in the sector of civil engineering and in the highway maintenance should reach, in 2009, 29 million hours. It is an increase of about 12 % for the year 2008.
One should see stability at the level of industrial building, even if this sector has been chastised in the last few years by the vigour of the Canadian dollar and by very strong foreign competition.
Residential construction should however conserve a good pace in 2009, a far cry from knowing the real estate crisis the Americans must be going through. The CCQ forecasts a slight slowdown during the next few months but this diminution of hours worked will be compensated by public investments.
Finally, there is an urgent need for manpower in construction and not less than 14 000 new workers should be recruited annually before 2012.