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Government announcement
9 June 2016

Tangible results for the people of Quebec


The Premier of Quebec, Philippe Couillard, presented the highlights of the actions taken by the Government of Quebec with a view to ensuring that Quebec and all of its regions are more prosperous. For this announcement, the Premier was accompanied by the MNA for Jean-Lesage, Mr. André Drolet, by the Minister of Economy, Science and Innovation, and Minister responsible for the Digital Strategy, Ms. Dominique Anglade, by the Deputy Premier, Minister responsible for Small and Medium Enterprises, Regulatory Streamlining and Regional Economic Development, Minister responsible for the Status of Women, Ms. Lise Thériault, by the Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports and Minister of Families, Mr. Sébastien Proulx, by the Minister of Higher Education, Ms. Hélène David, by the Minister of Finance, Minister responsible for Government Administration and Ongoing Program Review, and Chair of the Treasury Board, Mr. Carlos J. Leitao.

Quebec City, June 9, 2016

An economic plan that supports the efforts of job creators

The Premier noted that the Government of Quebec had recently announced a number of measures of investments in a wide variety of economic sectors, such as energy, aerospace, the digital economy, tourism, culture, food, forests, aluminum, and maritime transportation and shipping. It should be noted that, since the last provincial election, the private sector has created more jobs in Quebec than in any other Canadian province.

Our team is strongly committed to economic growth for each and every region of Quebec. Our priorities are clear:  an innovative manufacturing sector, exports and entrepreneurship. We want to train better, attract and retain the best talent, encourage innovation to enhance global competitiveness, and take advantage of the worldwide transition toward the new economy. Our economic policies have been very well received by local job creators because they are a direct response to their needs.

 Philippe Couillard

Sound public finances to reinvest in academic success

The Government of Quebec’s sound management of public finances allowed Quebec to reinvest in a key sector: education. Thus, over the next three years, $1.2 billion will be reinvested in education, which will allow the Government of Quebec to hire almost 900,000 new professionals to provide services to students, renovate schools, offer kindergarten programs for 4 year olds in disadvantaged environments, and improve the training provided to young people attending CEGEP and universities, in order to prepare them to satisfy the needs of the workforce.

Sound public finances, and an improving credit rating

The Premier asserted that, for the first time since the 2008-2009 recession, Standard & Poor’s revised Quebec’s credit forecast from “stable” to “positive”. This vote of confidence is linked to the size, the structure and the vitality of Quebec’s economy, our labour force, our fiscal competitiveness, the state of our public finances and our debt load.

It should be noted that, after the 2014 provincial election, two independent reports confirmed an anticipated deficit of $7 billion.

This decision by Standard & Poor’s is a positive sign for the entire population of Quebec. When our government’s credit rating increases, our collective financial situation improves. The Government of Quebec’s goal has always been clear: regain a healthy economy, to give ourselves the necessary room to manoeuver to reinvest in key sectors of the economy, and, by doing so, to improve Quebecers’ quality of life. We made a promise in 2014.  We have kept that promise.

– Philippe Couillard