While welcoming the composition of Premier Christine Fréchette’s first cabinet, business representatives expect these elected officials to get to work quickly and take steps to support Quebec businesses. The appointment of Bernard Drainville as super-minister of Economy, Innovation, and Energy has been welcomed by several business groups. They also welcome the reappointment of France-Élaine Duranceau to the Treasury Board, Eric Girard to Finance, and Jean Boulet to Labour. The Quebec Employers’ Council (CPQ) calls on these ministers “to take concrete action quickly to support the Quebec economy,” while acknowledging that there are only a few weeks of parliamentary work remaining. “Time is running out, expectations are high. This experienced cabinet understands the challenges and priorities of the business community. We must now take swift action,” said CPQ President and CEO Michelle LLambías Meunier in a press release. According to the President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal (CCMM), the Fréchette government’s “new team” “has no time to waste.” “We expect swift decisions that unlock projects, facilitate investment, and send a clear signal that Quebec is a place where it is easy to start a business and grow. These ministers must lead the government apparatus to keep pace with the momentum they aim to create,” stated Isabelle Dessureault in a press release. For the CCMM, the government must, in particular, simplify regulations to accelerate project delivery and improve access to the workforce “by better aligning policies with the needs of the labour market.” In the view of the Quebec Vice-President of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), “the new cabinet combines experience and renewal to take action to help SMEs and households.” “In a context where uncertainty is now the new certainty for Quebec entrepreneurs, the Quebec government can and must make a difference to build a business environment more favorable to SMEs,” says François Vincent. The CFIB is calling, among other things, for a reduction in red tape, the elimination of certain rules unique to Quebec, a carbon tax rebate for farmers and SMEs in other economic sectors, and the maintenance of fiscal discipline to avoid further tax or fee increases. The return of François Bonnardel to the Cabinet, who has been tasked with the immigration portfolio, is also welcomed by the business community. The return of the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) constitutes a “positive first step,” acknowledges the CPQ. However, the government must “go further” in the context of a labour shortage, according to the organization. “It is essential to ensure an adequate quota for temporary foreign workers (TFWs) in order to provide businesses with the predictability and stability they need to grow and invest,” states the CPQ. Furthermore, regarding public investment, the Employers’ Council hopes that public procurement mechanisms will allow for greater participation by Quebec businesses. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on April 21, 2026.
