A Quebec Ready for Artificial Intelligence
Quebec City, September 18, 2026 — A Liberal government led by Charles Milliard will aim to build a digital Québec that meets the legitimate needs and expectations of Québécois, particularly in the area of artificial intelligence (AI).
In the short term, it will introduce a framework bill on the development and deployment of AI. This bill will be based on the recommendations already approved by the Quebec Innovation Council (CIQ), particularly with regard to transparency surrounding the use of artificial intelligence.
In a second phase, the regulatory framework for AI will be expanded to cover its use by businesses and its impact on workers. The Minister of Cybersecurity and Digital Affairs will also be responsible for artificial intelligence and its regulation within the public sector.
AI should support government employees, not replace them. That is why the PLQ will ensure that a human remains responsible for any government decision that directly affects a citizen.
After eight years under the leadership of the Coalition Avenir Québec, it is time to change course and significantly improve the success rate of the Quebec government’s digital transformation projects.
To achieve this, the Quebec Liberal Party proposes five areas of focus:
- Build strong in-house digital expertise and reduce the government's reliance on outside firms;
- Reduce cost overruns and delays by addressing the root causes of repeated digital failures: poor needs assessment and outdated project management methods;
- Clearly designate those responsible for the government’s digital transformation and hold them accountable for their decisions;
- To equip Quebec with modern and innovative information technology infrastructure capable of improving government productivity and generating significant cost savings;
- Prepare Quebec workers for the transformation of their trades, rather than letting them simply endure it.
In addition, a Liberal government will streamline government digital spending to achieve a better return on investment and ensure sound management of public funds. Specifically, we aim to achieve savings of $500 million—or 7.5 percent—on net information technology spending by 2031, compared to the current level projected in the Information Resources Investment and Expenditure Plan (PIDRI).
Ultimately, these measures will reduce the government's digital expenses by several hundred million dollars.
In short:
A liberal government led by Charles Milliard:
- Will make the Ministry of Cybersecurity and Digital Affairs (MCN) the central authority for the government’s digital transformation, granting it the legal and budgetary authority necessary to lead the digital projects of ministries and public agencies;
- Will establish an elite digital innovation team within the Agence numérique Québec. This team will serve as an in-house developer and help integrate technological solutions into government departments and public agencies;
- Will adopt a strategic approach to cloud computing to ensure that the government retains control over its data and digital architecture. The goal will be for the government to retain, to the greatest extent possible, the intellectual property rights to all publicly funded digital developments;
- Will structure contracts in such a way as to allow the government to switch suppliers without becoming locked into a contract with a single company. Consider, for example, the SIFA project and its $175 million termination clause;
- Will make public all MCN opinions regarding digital transformation projects initiated under the CAQ. In the future, MCN opinions justifying the selection of a solution for any project exceeding $25 million will also be made public.
In fact, the MCN’s mission will be to ensure the best possible return on the government’s investments in information resources. Furthermore, to attract top-tier developers, architects, and technologists, we will offer competitive employment terms compared to market rates.
“After eight years of neglect under Christine Fréchette’s CAQ government, it’s time for responsible adults to take back control of Quebec’s digital transformation. Only the PLQ is demonstrating the leadership needed to guide the development and deployment of artificial intelligence, drawing on the recognized work of experts. Quebecers have said it before and they’re saying it again: enough is enough.”
- Charles Milliard, Leader of the Quebec Liberal Party
