The FTQ and FTQ-Construction unions are asking the Quebec government to ensure that construction sites being set up in the province’s regions during the economic recovery will employ workers from those regions.

The heads of the two unions, Daniel Boyer and Éric Boisjoly, have sent a letter to Labour Minister Jean Boulet as well as ministers representing various regions.

The issue has previously raised tensions in the Côte-Nord region, where local construction workers saw workers from other regions come in while they were left without jobs. The issue was also brought up during the Charbonneau Commission looking into corruption in the construction industry. A committee including entrepreneurs, unions and municipalities was created to ease tensions in that region.

Boisjoly, the general manager of FTQ-Construction, said in an interview Thursday that there needs to be “a balance” between the needs of entrepreneurs and workers who want to work where they live.

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