After a near-total pause on construction activities of all sorts throughout the province, the Quebec government announced on April 28 that it would re-open the entire construction industry on May 11.

The news from Jean Boulet, Quebec’s minister of Labour, Employment and Social Solidarity, comes at a time when the province has the highest number of recorded COVID-19 cases in the country—more than half the national total.

“Rest assured that our government will be there to do everything in its power to help businesses with this reopening,” Boulet said in a release. “I expect it to proceed smoothly and in strict compliance with the health measures prescribed by public health authorities.”

Boulet said a sharp focus will remain on worker health and safety when construction work resumes. He indicated that the province’s 300 inspectors from the Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST) will ensure job sites follow the province’s guidelines for containing COVID-19.

“At every construction site, the top priority will be that everyone must continue protecting themselves. Our government has worked closely with public health agencies, construction industry partners and the CNESST to safeguard workers’ health and safety,” Boulet said. “Residential construction sites, which resumed operations on April 20, have demonstrated their agility, adaptability, and commitment to protecting the health and safety of their workers. If all goes well, other types of construction sites will return to work on May 11.”

Ontario, meanwhile, is taking a more cautious approach to re-opening.

The Ford government announced a broad framework for restoring business activities on April 27. The plan lists three phases that would gradually loosen restrictions on businesses and public lives. It does not, however, include any details on which industries will be allowed to open and when—meaning it’s still up in the air as to when construction can resume at something resembling a normal pace.

“The steps we are taking are working, but progress doesn’t mean we can quit now,” Ford said in a press conference. “And that’s why I won’t set hard dates until we’re ready because the virus travels at its own speed.”

The following day, Ford promised his government will soon release “clear, labour-specific guidelines” for how businesses will be able to operate once the economy reopens.

Construction activity in Ontario has been cut back significantly since early April. While work on key infrastructure projects, such as roads and healthcare facilities, is deemed essential and can, in most cases continue for 24 hours a day, most activity in the industrial, commercial and institutional sectors remains at a standstill.