The government is looking to implement additional measures to ensure the quality of construction, especially in the residential sector. On August 27,2024, Minister Jean Boulet introduced the Inspection Program 2025-2029.
This Garantie de construction résidentiel (GCR) will include three inspections for every new home by 2029. One of these inspections may occur before the walls are closed when the components of the electrical and plumbing systems are still visible.
Non-compliance issues in the construction sector
According to the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ), non-compliance issues were found in 55% of the inspections conducted in 2022, and nearly half of the residential buildings inspected over the past four years also showed issues. This highlights a recurring problem across Quebec.
To address defects in new constructions, the GCR has increased its interventions. Since receiving its mandate from the government in 2015, the program has inspected nearly 68,000 new homes, including single-family homes and condominiums with fewer than four floors.
In 2023, the organization reported having inspected 100% of the new properties under its mandate and observed a significant 58% reduction in non-compliance issues between 2017 and 2023.
Despite this progress, non-compliance issues remain a significant concern. Identifying them early not only protects buyers from potential hidden defects but also leads to cost savings. According to GCR’s assessments, it would cost 8 to 15 times more to redo poorly executed work than to get it right from the start.
Inspection before wall closure to prevent construction defects
To further prevent construction defects, GCR emphasizes the importance of inspections and aims to increase its interventions on construction sites. The organization's inspections will be conducted at three of the five main construction stages:
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Foundation
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Framing
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Wall closure
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Exterior cladding
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Finishing
One of these inspections will be mandatory before the walls are closed. This step is central to the GCR strategy.
At this stage, inspections are critical to verify fundamental elements, such as the plumbing and electrical systems, that will no longer be visible once the gypsum board is installed.
To proceed with closing the walls, the contractor must obtain authorization from GCR. If authorization is not granted, the organization may require the walls to be reopened for inspection.
If non-compliance issues are identified during the checks, the contractor will need to provide proof that the required corrections have been made.
Gradual implementation of the inspection program
The triple inspection program will be gradually rolled out in Quebec by 2029, with a focus initially on lower-rated contractors. GCR will progressively increase its activities each year, with the following goals:
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Starting in 2025: Homes from lower-rated contractors will undergo two inspections, with one inspection mandatory before the wall closed.
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Starting in 2026: Homes from lower-rated contractors will be inspected three times.
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Starting in 2027: All new homes covered by GCR will be inspected at least twice.
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Starting in 2028: All property subject to inspection will undergo an inspection before the walls are closed.
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Starting in 2029: 100% of new properties covered by GCR will be inspected at least three times, including one mandatory inspection before the walls are closed.
To accomplish this, the Garantie de construction résidentielle program will need to quadruple the number of inspectors on its team. These inspectors may include architects, technologists, or engineers who are members of a recognized professional order.
A specific deployment plan is also planned for condominiums and manufactured homes.
Enhancement to the existing program
The addition of these residential inspection measures complements the existing mandatory warranty plan. However, it should be clarified that this program only applies to small buildings.
Only buildings with four floors or fewer will be systematically and repeatedly inspected by the organization. High-rise condo buildings are not currently subject to this regulation and are not required to subscribe to private insurance, which leaves buyers without certain protections. Therefore, it’s important to exercise caution if you’re considering purchasing a condo in these larger buildings.
Minister Boulet is expected to present a broader bill this fall, aimed at regulating the quality of construction across all sectors.
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