F-5 - Act respecting workforce vocational training and qualification

Updated to 1 October 2024

This document has official status.

chapter F-5

Act respecting workforce vocational training and qualification

2007, c. 3, s. 72.

CHAPTER I INTERPRETATION

1. In this Act, the following expressions mean:

(a)  “adult” : a person on the labour market who is at least 16 years of age;

(b)  “apprentice” : an adult enrolled at the Ministère de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale, in accordance with the regulations made under this Act, or enrolled in accordance with a program established pursuant to Chapter II.1, for the purpose of learning a trade or vocation in accordance with a program approved by the Minister;

(c)  “apprenticeship” : a method of vocational training the program of which is intended to qualify an apprentice and includes a period of practical training with an employer and, generally, courses in relevant technical and vocational subjects;

(d)  (paragraph repealed);

(e)  (paragraph repealed);

(f)  “certificate of qualification” : a certificate issued by the Minister attesting to the level of qualification acquired in a trade or vocation the carrying on of which is regulated under this Act or a certificate issued under a program established pursuant to Chapter II.1;

(g)  (paragraph repealed);

(h)  (paragraph repealed);

(i)  (paragraph repealed);

(j)  (paragraph repealed);

(k)  (paragraph repealed);

(l)  (paragraph repealed);

(m)  (paragraph repealed);

(n)  “vocational training” : training the purpose of which is to enable any adult to acquire the competence required to carry on a trade or vocation;

(o)  “examining board” : a body established under this Act for the purpose of assessing the vocational qualifications of adults in a trade or vocation;

(o.1)  (paragraph repealed);

(o.2)  (paragraph repealed);

(p)  “Minister” : the Minister of Employment and Social Solidarity, except where another minister is designated in a provision;

(q)  “vocation” : any given occupation, whether a trade or a function, by which a person may earn his livelihood;

(r)  (paragraph repealed);

(s)  “regulation” : a regulation made under section 30 of this Act;

(t)  “skilled tradesman” : a natural person who, operating on his own account, carries on a trade or vocation.

1969, c. 51, s. 1; 1977, c. 5, s. 14; 1979, c. 2, s. 29; 1980, c. 5, s. 12; 1981, c. 9, s. 34; 1982, c. 53, s. 32, s. 57; 1988, c. 35, s. 19; 1992, c. 44, s. 81; 1992, c. 44, s. 55; 1994, c. 12, s. 43; 1996, c. 29, s. 23; 1997, c. 63, s. 107; 1998, c. 46, s. 60; 2001, c. 44, s. 30; 2002, c. 80, s. 82.

CHAPTER II

Repealed, 1992, c. 44, s. 56.

1992, c. 44, s. 56.

2. (Repealed).

1969, c. 51, s. 2; 1992, c. 44, s. 56.

3. (Repealed).

1969, c. 51, s. 3; 1992, c. 44, s. 56.

4. (Repealed).

1969, c. 51, s. 4; 1992, c. 44, s. 56.

5. (Repealed).

1969, c. 51, s. 5; 1986, c. 95, s. 142; 1992, c. 44, s. 56.

6. (Repealed).

1969, c. 51, s. 6; 1992, c. 44, s. 56.

7. (Repealed).

1969, c. 51, s. 7; 1992, c. 44, s. 56.

8. (Repealed).

1969, c. 51, s. 8; 1992, c. 44, s. 56.

9. (Repealed).

1969, c. 51, s. 9; 1992, c. 44, s. 56.

10. (Repealed).

1969, c. 51, s. 10; 1992, c. 44, s. 56.

11. (Repealed).

1969, c. 51, s. 11 (part); 1992, c. 44, s. 56.

12. (Repealed).

1969, c. 51, s. 12 (part); 1992, c. 44, s. 56.

13. (Repealed).

1969, c. 51, s. 13; 1992, c. 44, s. 56.

14. (Repealed).

1969, c. 51, s. 14; 1992, c. 44, s. 56.

15. (Repealed).

1969, c. 51, s. 15; 1982, c. 53, s. 33; 1992, c. 44, s. 81; 1992, c. 44, s. 56.

16. (Repealed).

1969, c. 51, s. 16; 1992, c. 44, s. 56.

17. (Repealed).

1969, c. 51, s. 17; 1990, c. 4, s. 437; 1992, c. 44, s. 56.

18. (Repealed).

1969, c. 51, s. 18; 1992, c. 44, s. 56.

19. (Repealed).

1969, c. 51, s. 19; 1992, c. 44, s. 56.

20. (Repealed).

1969, c. 51, s. 20; 1992, c. 44, s. 56.

21. (Repealed).

1969, c. 51, s. 21; 1977, c. 5, s. 14; 1992, c. 44, s. 56.

22. (Repealed).

1969, c. 51, s. 22; 1982, c. 53, s. 34; 1992, c. 44, s. 56.

23. (Repealed).

1969, c. 51, s. 23; 1992, c. 44, s. 56.

24. (Repealed).

1969, c. 51, s. 24; 1982, c. 53, s. 35; 1992, c. 44, s. 56.

25. (Repealed).

1969, c. 51, s. 25; 1992, c. 61, s. 317; 1992, c. 44, s. 56.

26. (Repealed).

1969, c. 51, s. 26; 1992, c. 44, s. 56.

27. (Repealed).

1969, c. 51, s. 27; 1972, c. 60, s. 49; 1977, c. 5, s. 14; 1978, c. 57, s. 92; 1979, c. 63, s. 329; 1979, c. 45, s. 150; 1986, c. 89, s. 50; 1988, c. 84, s. 701; 1992, c. 44, s. 56.

28. (Repealed).

1969, c. 51, s. 28; 1992, c. 44, s. 56.

29. (Repealed).

1969, c. 51, s. 29; 1992, c. 44, s. 56.

CHAPTER II.1 VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND QUALIFICATION PROGRAMS

1988, c. 35, s. 20; 2007, c. 3, s. 57.

29.1. The Minister may establish vocational training and qualification programs in respect of trades or vocations the carrying on of which is not regulated under this Act. These programs may in particular determine

(1)  the activities that are part of a trade or vocation and the skills to be mastered in order to practise it;

(2)  the conditions for admission to apprenticeship, examinations or evaluations and for obtaining a certificate of qualification;

(3)  the subjects of the examinations or the evaluation methods and the certificates of qualification awarded upon completion of the programs;

(4)  the duties exigible for the taking of examinations, for evaluations and for the issue and renewal of a certificate of qualification and apprentice booklet;

(4.1)  any measure to give effect to an intergovernmental agreement to which the Government is party in respect of workforce mobility or the recognition of qualifications, skills or work experience in trades or vocations;

(5)  any other related or suppletory provision deemed necessary for the efficient implementation of these programs.

When an Act or regulation requires a certificate of qualification for a trade or vocation for which such a program has been established, the Minister shall make the content of that program public by any appropriate means.

1988, c. 35, s. 20; 2007, c. 3, s. 58; 2009, c. 43, s. 4.

Duties exigible under section 29.1 and fees payable under section 29.2 of this Act; see chapter F-5, r. 1, s. 28 and chapter F-5, r. 2, s. 34. See also notice of indexation; (2024) 156 G.O. 1, 31.

29.2. The Minister administers, within Québec, the Interprovincial Standards Red Seal Program developed by the Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship to provide greater mobility for skilled workers across Canada, and may

(1)  request the Council to approve the Red Seal designation of trades, including trades governed by this Act or the Act respecting labour relations, vocational training and workforce management in the construction industry (chapter R-20);

(2)  administer examinations for designated trades;

(3)  issue certificates or affix seals to existing certificates;

(4)  set the fees payable; and

(5)  determine any other related measure that is necessary for the implementation of the program.

2009, c. 43, s. 5.

Duties exigible under section 29.1 and fees payable under section 29.2 of this Act; see chapter F-5, r. 1, s. 28 and chapter F-5, r. 2, s. 34. See also notice of indexation; (2024) 156 G.O. 1, 31.

CHAPTER III REGULATIONS

30. The Government may make regulations consistent with this Act to ensure the efficient carrying out thereof. It may in particular:

(a)  determine the qualification required to carry on trades or vocations;

(b)  render obligatory apprenticeship and the certificate of qualification for the carrying on of a given trade or vocation;

(c)  determine the conditions for admission to apprenticeship and to the examinations for qualification, for obtaining and renewal of certificates of qualification and generally the conditions for admission to the carrying on of trades or vocations;

(d)  determine the number of persons who may be admitted to apprenticeship in a trade or vocation in relation to the number of qualified employees in an enterprise or in a given territory and determine, after consultation with the parties concerned, the rate of the minimum wage of an apprentice in relation to the wages of a qualified employee;

(e)  (paragraph repealed);

(f)  (paragraph repealed);

(g)  determine the subjects of the examinations for qualification and the certificates to which they lead;

(h)  fix the duties exigible for the taking of examinations and the issue or renewal of the certificate of qualification;

(i)  (paragraph repealed);

(j)  (paragraph repealed);

(k)  (paragraph repealed);

(l)  generally, adopt any other related or suppletory provision for the efficient carrying out of this Act and for the proper functioning of the bodies which it establishes, including any exceptional provision to facilitate the implementation of intergovernmental agreements in respect of workforce mobility or the recognition of the qualifications, skills or work experience in trades or vocations.

Such regulations made to facilitate the implementation of an intergovernmental agreement are not subject to the requirements as to publication and the date of coming into force set out in sections 8 and 17 of the Regulations Act (chapter R-18.1).

1969, c. 51, s. 30; 1983, c. 54, s. 40; 1985, c. 21, s. 65; 1988, c. 41, s. 88; 1992, c. 44, s. 57; 1996, c. 74, s. 12; 2007, c. 3, s. 72.

31. Every regulation contemplated in subparagraphs a, b, c and d of the first paragraph of section 30 shall be preceded by a draft which must be published in the Gazette officielle du Québec with a notice specifying that any objection to the passing thereof must be made within 30 days.

The Minister may order an investigation into the merits of any objection made following such notice.

1969, c. 51, s. 31; 1996, c. 74, s. 13.

32. After the expiry of the period or, as the case may be, after the aforementioned investigation has been held, the Government shall pass the regulation. A notice to such effect shall be published in the Gazette officielle du Québec, together with the text of the amendments, if any. Such regulation shall come into force on the day of such publication or at any later date fixed for such purpose by the regulation or by the order whereby it is passed.

1969, c. 51, s. 32; 1999, c. 40, s. 141.

CHAPTER IV EXAMINING BOARDS AND ADVISORY COMMITTEES

1992, c. 44, s. 58; 1998, c. 46, s. 61.

33. (Repealed).

1969, c. 51, s. 33; 1982, c. 53, s. 36; 1992, c. 44, s. 59.

34. (Repealed).

1969, c. 51, s. 34; 1970, c. 42, s. 17; 1977, c. 5, s. 14; 1979, c. 77, s. 27; 1982, c. 53, s. 37; 1984, c. 36, s. 44; 1985, c. 21, s. 66; 1985, c. 23, s. 24; 1988, c. 41, s. 88, s. 89; 1992, c. 44, s. 81; 1992, c. 44, s. 59.

35. (Repealed).

1969, c. 51, s. 35; 1970, c. 42, s. 17; 1977, c. 5, s. 14; 1979, c. 77, s. 27; 1981, c. 9, s. 34; 1982, c. 53, s. 57; 1984, c. 36, s. 44; 1985, c. 21, s. 67; 1985, c. 23, s. 24; 1988, c. 41, s. 88, s. 89; 1992, c. 44, s. 81; 1992, c. 44, s. 59.

36. (Repealed).

1969, c. 51, s. 36; 1992, c. 44, s. 59.

37. (Repealed).

1969, c. 51, s. 37; 1992, c. 44, s. 59.

38. (Repealed).

1969, c. 51, s. 38; 1982, c. 53, s. 38; 1992, c. 44, s. 59.

39. (Repealed).

1969, c. 51, s. 39; 1992, c. 44, s. 59.

40. (Repealed).

1969, c. 51, s. 40; 1992, c. 44, s. 59.

41. The Minister may establish:

(a)  (paragraph repealed);

(b)  examining boards;

(c)  (paragraph repealed);

(d)  advisory committees for such specific purposes as he determines.

1969, c. 51, s. 41; 1982, c. 53, s. 39; 1992, c. 44, s. 60; 1996, c. 29, s. 24; 1998, c. 46, s. 62.

CHAPTER V GENERAL PROVISIONS

41.1. Any person aggrieved by a decision made pursuant to a regulation under the first paragraph of section 30 may, where such a remedy is provided for in the regulation, contest the decision before the Administrative Labour Tribunal.

The Tribunal may also make any decision in respect of the experience certificate of an employee or skilled tradesman where a regulation under the first paragraph of section 30 confers that function on the Commission.

1998, c. 46, s. 63; 2007, c. 3, s. 72; 2006, c. 58, s. 63; 2015, c. 15, s. 237.

42. No employer shall employ an employee who has not obtained the certificate of qualification required to carry on any trade or vocation contemplated in subparagraph b of the first paragraph of section 30 and such an employee shall not carry on such trade or vocation.

No skilled tradesman may carry on a trade or vocation contemplated in subparagraph b of the first paragraph of section 30 unless he has obtained the certificate of qualification required to carry on that trade or vocation.

1969, c. 51, s. 42; 1979, c. 2, s. 30; 1996, c. 74, s. 14.

43. Upon the joint request of the Minister and the Minister of Labour and in the manner they indicate, the parity committees constituted under the Act respecting collective agreement decrees (chapter D-2), the Commission de la construction du Québec and the Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail must cooperate in applying the standards for the vocational qualification of workforce and report to the Minister and the Minister of Labour in the manner they prescribe.

Any employee of a parity committee, of the Commission de la construction du Québec or of the Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail acting under this section shall have the same powers as if he were acting under the Act respecting collective agreement decrees, the Act respecting labour relations, vocational training and workforce management in the construction industry (chapter R-20) or the Act respecting labour standards (chapter N-1.1).

1969, c. 51, s. 43; 1977, c. 5, s. 14; 1979, c. 45, s. 149, s. 150; 1982, c. 53, s. 40; 1986, c. 89, s. 50; 1994, c. 12, s. 44; 1996, c. 29, s. 25; 1998, c. 46, s. 64; 2007, c. 3, s. 72; 2015, c. 15, s. 237.

44. The Government may authorize the Minister to make with the Government of Canada and with any provincial government, and with any body dependent on one or the other, agreements to assist in the training and vocational qualification of workforce.

1969, c. 51, s. 44; 2007, c. 3, s. 72.

45. (Repealed).

1969, c. 51, s. 45; 1980, c. 5, s. 13; 1992, c. 44, s. 61; 1996, c. 29, s. 26; 1997, c. 63, s. 108; 1999, c. 40, s. 141; 2002, c. 80, s. 83.

45.1. The Minister may, in writing, generally or specially authorize a person to exercise all or part of the powers conferred on him by this Act.

1982, c. 53, s. 41.

CHAPTER VI PENAL PROVISIONS AND OTHER SANCTIONS

1992, c. 61, s. 318.

46. (Repealed).

1969, c. 51, s. 47; 1990, c. 4, s. 438; 1992, c. 61, s. 319.

47. The following shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of not less than $325 nor more than $700 for each day or part of a day during which the offence lasts:

(a)  (subparagraph repealed);

(b)  any person who, in order to obtain a position, uses a certificate of qualification issued in the name of another person;

(c)  any person who issues a certificate of qualification to a person who has not successfully completed the examination or evaluation, for the purpose of enabling him to obtain a position;

(d)  (subparagraph repealed);

(e)  any person who makes a false entry in a book or falsifies any document prescribed by this Act, makes or signs a false declaration, or uses any such entry, document or declaration;

(f)  any person who infringes any other provision of this Act or of a regulation made by the Government under section 30.

In the case of a legal person which is guilty of one of the above-mentioned offences, the penalties shall be double those specified in subparagraphs b, c, e and f hereinabove.

For any subsequent offence, individuals and legal persons shall be respectively liable to double the penalties enacted in the two preceding paragraphs.

1969, c. 51, s. 48; 1986, c. 58, s. 40; 1990, c. 4, s. 439; 1991, c. 33, s. 54; 1992, c. 44, s. 62; 1999, c. 40, s. 141; 2007, c. 3, s. 59.

48. (Repealed).

1969, c. 51, s. 49; 1990, c. 4, s. 440; 1992, c. 44, s. 63.

49. (Repealed).

1969, c. 51, s. 50; 1986, c. 58, s. 41; 1990, c. 4, s. 441; 1991, c. 33, s. 55; 1992, c. 44, s. 63.

50. No proof shall be allowed to establish that an inquiry or a prosecution has been made or brought following an information or to identify the person supplying the information.

1969, c. 51, s. 51; 1990, c. 4, s. 442; 1992, c. 61, s. 657.

51. In any prosecution brought under this Act, it shall not be necessary to produce the original of any book, register, order or document in the possession of the Minister. A copy or extract certified as true shall be proof of the tenor of the original and the certificate affixed to such copy or extract shall constitute proof of the signature and authority of the Minister until proof to the contrary.

1969, c. 51, s. 52; 1977, c. 5, s. 14; 1981, c. 9, s. 34; 1982, c. 53, s. 57; 1992, c. 44, s. 81; 1994, c. 12, s. 45; 1996, c. 29, s. 27.

51.1. Penal proceedings for an offence under subparagraph e of the first paragraph of section 47 shall be prescribed by one year from the date on which the prosecutor became aware of the commission of the offence. However, no proceedings may be instituted where more than five years have elapsed from the commission of the offence.

1992, c. 61, s. 320.

52. In addition to the above penal prosecutions, a civil action may be instituted to recover the duties payable under this Act and the regulations.

1969, c. 51, s. 53.

CHAPTER VII FINAL PROVISIONS

53. The Minister of Employment and Social Solidarity shall be entrusted with the carrying out of this Act.

1969, c. 51, s. 57; 1981, c. 9, s. 34; 1982, c. 53, s. 57; 1992, c. 44, s. 81; 1994, c. 12, s. 46; 1996, c. 29, s. 28; 1997, c. 63, s. 109; 2001, c. 44, s. 30.

54. (This section ceased to have effect on 17 April 1987).

1982, c. 21, s. 1; U. K., 1982, c. 11, Sch. B, Part I, s. 33.

REPEAL SCHEDULES

In accordance with section 17 of the Act respecting the consolidation of the statutes (chapter R-3), chapter 51 of the statutes of 1969, in force on 31 December 1977, is repealed, except sections 11 (part), 12 (part), 54 to 56, 58, 62, 63, 96 and 102, effective from the coming into force of chapter F-5 of the Revised Statutes.

In accordance with section 17 of the Act respecting the consolidation of the statutes and regulations (chapter R-3), paragraph t of section 1 and the second paragraph of section 42 of chapter 51 of the statutes of 1969, in force on 1 November 1980, are repealed effective from the coming into force of the updating to 1 November 1980 of chapter F-5 of the Revised Statutes.