With its abundant forest resources, Québec has a long tradition of wood construction. Buildings in the past were mainly log or wood-frame structures, low in height.
With urbanization, fire safety standards restricted the use of wood in tall buildings. In 2015, the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) authorized wood-frame constructions of up to 6 storeys, under strict conditions.
With the introduction of cross-laminated timber (CLT) came a new material as strong as concrete, leading to the construction of taller, durable buildings with a low carbon footprint. Québec rapidly positioned itself as a leader in mass timber construction in the multi-family and non-residential sectors.
Encapsulated mass timber construction (EMTC), which combines structural performance and fire protection, was developed to meet safety requirements. In July 2025, the RBQ published a technical guide authorizing EMTC buildings up to 18 storeys high without a variance.
These advances are in line with the Policy for the Use of Wood in Construction, aimed at reducing carbon footprints and stimulating the local forestry economy. Wood can now be used in a wide variety of buildings, with greater flexibility in exposed-timber allowances.
Québec is a leader in a new era of wood as a pillar of sustainable construction, combining tradition, innovation and performance.
Silvia Garcia, Vice-President for Regulation and Innovation
Silvia Garcia holds two bachelor’s degrees in civil engineering and architecture, as well as a Master of Business Administration (MBA). She has been a member of the Ordre des architectes du Québec since 1994. In 2021, she also completed training in civil, commercial, and labour mediation. In 2015, after a number of years working in architecture and politics, she was appointed Vice-President for Regulation and Innovation at the Régie du bâtiment du Québec. She also represents Québec on several strategic national committees within the standardization and technical regulation ecosystem. Ms. Garcia actively participated in the work that led to the signing of several code harmonization and conciliation agreements stemming from the Canadian Free Trade Agreement, including one on the recognition of registration numbers for pressure equipment and another, signed in 2020, aimed at reconciling building codes between the provincial and territorial governments and the National Research Council of Canada. Since January 2025, she has co-chaired the Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes (CBHCC).
Sponsored by
Exhibit Hall
Silvia Garcia
English (Canada) 
French