In response to the escalating COVID-19 pandemic situation, the Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ) has closed its customer-service counters throughout the province.

The move was announced on March 15 and went into effect the following day. The closure is in effect until further notice. It is the latest in a long series of strategies taken by public- and private-sector organizations worldwide to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

“Like many employers in Québec, the CCQ foresees a staff shortage over the coming weeks,” said the organization in a media release. “The closure of the counters will make it possible to assign all available customer-service agents to processing applications and taking calls, in order to maintain the highest possible level of service. It should be noted, however, that processing times may be longer than usual.”

As a result of the closure, the CCQ is directing clients to contact the organization over the phone or online for general questions and for those already registered with the CCQ. Additionally, the organization has suspended all sittings of journeyperson qualification exams, and has closed its vocational training centres.

Construction site visits will continue in the province, and the commission has issued special direction to site inspectors to protect their health and safety, and those of site workers.

The commission is also offering salary compensation and scheduling adjustment measures—including teleworking—for its own employees who have been affected by the situation.

The CCQ receives more than 100,000 visits to its regional offices each year.