RBQ glossary: letter G

Gantt chart (diagramme de Gantt)

A planning tool that shows each project activity as a horizontal bar on a time scale. It shows at a glance the sequence of the work, the float on some tasks, and progress against the plan. It is often used to present the schedule, alongside the critical path method or a PERT chart.

See also: Schedule (échéancier), Critical path (chemin critique)

Project and site management examSource: RBQ, Project and site management competency profile, element 19 (French)

General contractor (entrepreneur général)

Holder of a licence with at least one annexe I subclass. They sit the three management exams and one exam on the carrying out of construction work per annexe I or II subclass requested. Their licence bond is $40,000.

General contractor licenceSource: LégisQuébec, B-1.1, r. 9

General partnership (société en nom collectif)

A partnership formed by contract between partners who pool property, knowledge or activities and share the profits (arts. 2186 and 2188 of the Civil Code). Each partner can bind the partnership towards third persons in good faith. For debts contracted to operate the business, the partners are solidarily liable on their personal property, after creditors have first gone after the partnership’s property (art. 2221).

See also: Sole proprietorship (entreprise individuelle), Business corporation (société par actions), Guarantor (répondant)

Administration examThe RBQ guarantorSource: LégisQuébec, C.C.Q., art. 2221

Geotechnical study (étude géotechnique)

A study of the foundation soil based on soundings and tests, which provides and interprets the physical, mechanical and hydrogeological data needed to design and build a structure. The geotechnical report gives recommendations on foundations, excavation stability, backfilling and drainage. The contractor relies on it to plan the work and anticipate difficult soil conditions.

See also: Plans and specifications (plans et devis), Liability for loss of the work (perte de l’ouvrage)

Project and site management examSource: RBQ, Project and site management competency profile, element 9 (French)

GST (goods and services tax, TPS)

The 5% federal tax on most supplies of goods and services made in Canada (s. 165 of the Excise Tax Act). A registered contractor collects it on invoices, then remits it after deducting input tax credits. In Québec it applies in addition to the QST.

See also: QST (Québec sales tax, TVQ), Input tax credit and input tax refund (CTI et RTI), Accounts receivable (comptes clients)

Administration examSource: Justice Canada, Excise Tax Act, s. 165

Guarantee plan (plan de garantie)

The scheme that protects buyers of new residential buildings, governed by regulation B-1.1, r. 8. It concerns subclasses 1.1.1 and 1.1.2. A contractor holding only 1.1.1 or 1.1.2 provides no licence bond; holding any other subclass as well means a bond is required.

General contractor licenceSource: LégisQuébec, B-1.1, r. 8

Guarantor (répondant)

The person who shows the business’s competency to the RBQ, in one or more fields. The guarantor is the one who sits the exams: the owner for a sole proprietorship, an officer for a partnership or corporation. Results arrive once every guarantor on the file has finished.

Source: RBQ, exams: who, how, how much (French)

Definitions written by RBQexam from the statutes and the RBQ’s pages, without reproducing their text. If in doubt, the official source prevails.