Montreal, August 25, 2026 — As U.S. tariffs directly impact Quebec businesses and threaten jobs across Quebec, Quebec Liberal Party Leader Charles Milliard is proposing two emergency measures to quickly inject cash into the hardest-hit businesses.
The Quebec Liberal Party proposes:
- A temporary suspension of contributions to the Health Services Fund (FSS) for businesses directly affected by the rates. The assistance would be scaled according to their level of exposure: the more a business is affected, the greater the support would be. This measure would help keep more cash on hand for businesses, protect jobs, and support production in Quebec;
- Converting 25% of the aid intended for eligible SMEs into non-repayable direct aid, for businesses with revenue between $1 million and $2 million. Some of the support could continue to take the form of a loan, but this enhancement would allow smaller businesses to receive immediate assistance without further increasing their debt burden.
These measures are intended to keep workers employed, enable businesses to continue their operations, and preserve the economic vitality of regions particularly affected by the tariffs.
These measures constitute the PLQ’s emergency response to the tariff war and complement the economic commitments already announced to reduce the burden on small and medium-sized businesses, further promote the purchase of Quebec-made goods, strengthen Quebec’s economic alliances within Canada, and diversify the markets accessible to local businesses.
The Quebec Liberal Party thus intends to take short-term action to protect businesses and jobs, while building a stronger and more resilient Quebec economy in the medium and long term
“A company that’s short on cash today doesn’t just need new debt for tomorrow. It needs breathing room right now. Donald Trump’s threats have been known for two years, and Christine Fréchette had plenty of time, as Minister of the Economy, to prepare Quebec. She didn’t do it. Today, rather than simply offering more loans to entrepreneurs who are already struggling to stay afloat, we’re choosing to leave money in their coffers. That’s our approach: acting now to protect our businesses and our jobs, while building a stronger Québec economy for tomorrow.”
- Charles Milliard, Leader of the Quebec Liberal Party
