Québec, the September 9, 2026 - The leader of the Quebec Liberal Party, Charles Milliard, is unveiling his plan today to modernize Quebec’s civil service and refocus the government’s efforts on its primary mission: serving citizens.
Over the years, the public sector has become increasingly cumbersome. Too many employees are forced to spend part of their time producing reports of little use, conducting endless follow-ups, or obtaining a series of approvals. It is not their work that is at fault, but the organization in which they must operate.
The Quebec Liberal Party is therefore proposing to review the way it works with government employees and their union representatives. The goal is to give them more autonomy, reduce duplication of effort, and allow them to devote more time to serving citizens.
The Quebec Liberal Party is committed to:
Reestablishing Dialogue and Valuing the Expertise of State Employees
- To establish, as soon as we take office, a new partnership with labor unions, based on respect for employees’ skills and expertise;
- Update the Statement of Values of Quebec’s public administration—which has remained unchanged since 2002—to focus on excellence, commitment to citizens, and transparency;
- Introduce a modern leadership framework for managers, based on accountability, initiative, and compassion.
Simplifying Workflows
- Establish a culture of data-driven continuous improvement, with decentralized, autonomous, and multidisciplinary teams;
- Grant government professionals greater decision-making autonomy in strategic sectors and reduce unnecessary layers of hierarchy;
- Adopt artificial intelligence in a pragmatic way, where it generates measurable productivity gains;
- Bring the government’s transformation capabilities in-house and reduce reliance on external consultants for recurring tasks.
Putting Citizens Back at the Heart of Service Delivery
- Aim to resolve issues in a single interaction and reduce the number of required intermediaries;
- Automate certain processes to speed up service delivery.
Refocus government spending on services for Quebecers
- End the use of public funds for advertising campaigns that serve primarily to promote the government;
- Ensure that communications expenditures meet a genuine need for information or public service.
Gradually bring the government back to a reasonable size
- Reduce the number of full-time equivalents by approximately 12,000 over five years, primarily in management positions and administrative services;
- Proceed through attrition, voluntary separation incentives, and redeployment—never through across-the-board cuts;
- Review the functions of each ministry, based on actual needs rather than job titles.
Better Regulation of Online Gambling and Predictive Markets
- Expand the mandate of the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux so that it can license and oversee all online gambling platforms operating in Quebec;
- Subject accredited platforms to strict rules regarding advertising, addiction prevention, and the protection of minors;
- Create an independent organization dedicated to prevention and support for people struggling with gambling addiction, funded by the industry rather than by taxpayers;
- Entrust the Autorité des marchés financiers and the Régie with the joint mandate to fill the regulatory gap surrounding prediction markets, which are currently accessible in Quebec without any regulatory framework.
This transformation will ultimately generate approximately $1.7 billion in recurring savings, including $300 million as early as 2027–2028. It will be rolled out gradually to ensure service continuity. Health care, education, and culture will be protected.
“Quebecers’ money must serve Quebecers. It must improve healthcare, schools, roads, and public services. It must not be wasted on unnecessary processes, overly bureaucratic structures, or government advertising that serves primarily to promote the government. Modernizing the government does not mean making indiscriminate cuts. It means eliminating what slows down employees, giving them back their autonomy, and ensuring that every public dollar truly serves Quebecers. “A more agile government is a government better able to take action.”
- Charles Milliard, Leader of the Quebec Liberal Party
