Québec Shuts down non- essential construction
Ontario keeps open all construction defining ICI & Residential as Essential
Both Ontario and Québec have released this evening March 23 additional details as to what 'essential' businesses will be allowed to stay open.

In a sign of the tumultuous times we are experiencing we have different directions being taken with Québec shutting down most construction by only allowing a specified list of essential construction services and projects to continue while in Ontario the construction industry's ICI (Institutional, Commercial, Industrial) and residential sectors have been deemed essential and will not be shut down.

For Ottawa Construction Association members working on both sides of the river this presents a new dimension to your new reality of managing resources.
Québec List of Essential Construction that will stay open
The Québec government has ordered the closing as of Wednesday, March 25 at 00:01 until April 13, 2020 of all non-essential stores and services including construction EXCEPT the following:

Maintenance and operation of strategic infrastructure, including:
  • the production, procurement, transmission and distribution of energy (electricity, fossil energies);
  • the maintenance in good operating condition of essential public infrastructure such as bridges, municipal buildings, and so on;
  • construction, maintenance and the maintenance of essential activities related to public and private infrastructure that may pose a threat to public health and safety (private dams, the management of hazardous and radioactive materials, on so on);
  • health services and supply chain, for example, a water treatment plant;
  • computer resources (security, maintenance, urgent needs related to the situation);
  • data centres.

Construction sector:
  • construction firms for emergency dispatching or security purposes;
  • electricians, plumbers and other trades for emergency services;
  • rental equipment.

Building maintenance services -
  • building-maintenance firms (elevators, ventilation, alarms, and so on).
Ontario keeps open construction declaring ICI and residential essential
The list of essential businesses may be reviewed at the website link at the bottom. The construction industry is in this listing and will not be required to close down. All businesses in the list of essential business list are being asked to put into place any and all measures to safeguard the well-being of their employees on the front-lines.

List of Essential Workplaces relative to construction:
(Go to Ontario website to see complete listing of other sectors deemed essential)

Supply chains
1.   Businesses that supply other essential businesses or essential services with the support, supplies, systems or services, including processing, packaging, distribution, delivery and maintenance necessary to operate;

Institutional, Residential, Commercial and Industrial Maintenance
13. Businesses that provide support and maintenance services, including urgent repair, to maintain the safety, security, sanitation and essential operation of institutional, commercial industrial and residential properties and buildings, including, property management services,plumbers, electricians, custodial/janitorial workers, cleaning services, , security services, fire safety and sprinkler systems, building systems maintenance and repair technicians and engineers, mechanics, (e.g. HVAC, escalator and elevator technicians), and other service providers who provide similar services

Construction
26. Construction projects and services associated with the healthcare sector, including new facilities, expansions, renovations and conversion of spaces that could be repurposed for health care space;

27. Construction projects and services required to ensure safe and reliable operations of critical provincial infrastructure, including transit, transportation, energy and justice sectors beyond the day-to-day maintenance;

28. Construction work and services, including demolition services, in the industrial, commercial, institutional and residential sectors;

29. Construction work and services that supports health and safety environmental rehabilitation projects

Resources
35. Businesses that ensure global continuity of supply of mining materials and products (e.g. metals such as copper, nickel and gold) and that support supply chains in Northern Ontario including;
a.   Mining operations, production and processing; 
b.   Mineral exploration and development;
c.    Mining Supply and Services that support supply chains in the mining industry including maintenance of operations, health and safety.

36. Businesses that provide chemicals and gases to support the natural resource sector analytical labs and drinking water and wastewater sectors and other essential businesses;

37. Businesses that ensure global continuity of supply of forestry products (e.g. lumber, pulp, paper, wood fuel, etc.);

38. Businesses that ensure global continuity of supply of aggregates to support critical infrastructure repairs and emergency response requirements (e.g. sandbags, armour stone barriers, etc.);

39. Businesses that ensure global continuity of supply of petroleum and petroleum by-products;

Environmental Services
40. Businesses that support environmental management/monitoring and spill clean-up and response, including environmental consulting firms, professional engineers and geoscientists, septics haulers, well drillers, pesticides applicators and exterminators, management of industrial sewage/effluent (eg for mining operations), and environmental laboratories;

Utilities and Community Services
41. Utilities, and Businesses that support the provision of utilities and community services, including by providing products, materials and services needed for the delivery of utilities and community services:
a.   Waste Collection, Waste/ Sewage Treatment and Disposal, operation of landfills, and Hazardous Waste Disposal;
b.   Potable drinking water;
c.    Electricity Generation, transmission, distribution and storage;
d.   Natural Gas distribution, transmission and storage,
e.   Road construction and maintenance;
f.     police, fire, emergency services including coroner services and pathology services
g.   corrections and courts services;
h.   other government services including licenses and permits;

42. Businesses engaged in or supporting the operation, maintenance and repair of critical infrastructure (railways, dams, bridges, highways, erosion control structures, etc.);