Quebec Liberal Party Candidate Michel Leblanc Proposes Growing Small and Medium-Sized Businesses to Boost Economy

Economic Strategy and Business Support Under U.S. Tariffs

All five parties agreed that the incoming government must prop up businesses facing the effects of the trade war, but their proposed methods varied widely. The Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ), the Quebec Liberal Party, and Québec solidaire argued that larger businesses can help Quebec improve productivity and compete in an economy affected by U.S. tariffs. To back this approach, Eric Girard, CAQ candidate for Groulx, stated: We compensate with a promise to increase the Quebec infrastructure plan from 167 billion to 180 billion, according to reporting.

Michel LeBlanc, Quebec Liberal Party candidate for Marguerite-Bourgeoys, echoed the focus on export capability, noting: If they’re more productive, they can export more, and they can support an environment where tariffs are present, according to reporting. Meanwhile, Alexandre Leduc, Québec solidaire candidate for Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, emphasized the role of public contracts, stating: The place of the Quebec state as a work-giver, a contract-giver is important, according to reporting.

While the CAQ pushes to attract more foreign capital, the Liberals aim to grow small and medium-sized businesses locally. Girard defended the CAQ’s heavy reliance on public funds to stimulate growth, explaining: Because there’s no private investment, we want to do more public investment, and in due time private investment will come back and we’ll be able to cool off, according to reporting.

LeBlanc sharply criticized this track record, pointing out that If you look at the number or the proportion of medium-sized businesses in the economy, it did not grow. So they’ve failed, according to reporting. Québec solidaire countered that public investment must carry strict workplace caveats. Leduc argued: You cannot just say, yes, give contracts with no conditions and move on, according to reporting.

Tax Cuts Versus Direct Subsidies

Diverging from state intervention, the Conservative Party of Quebec argued that direct government financing fails to effectively support businesses. Adrien Pouliot, Conservative candidate for D’Arcy-McGee, asserted: Our corporations are paying the highest tax rates in North America, proposing instead to drop Quebec’s corporate tax rate to the lowest on the continent, according to reporting.

The Parti Québécois (PQ) similarly proposed an overhaul of corporate taxation by trimming direct subsidies while lowering taxes for firms. Stéphane Paquet, PQ candidate for Pointe-aux-Trembles, noted that the province currently doles out $8.5 billion in incentives. Paquet explained: Out of the 8.5 billion, we’ll take 2.5 billion and lower the taxes for 100 per cent of all the businesses in Quebec, according to reporting.

Immigration Reforms and Labour Shortage Debates

Immigration ignited some of the sharpest clashes of the evening. Both the CAQ and the PQ pledged to curb immigration numbers, with the CAQ pointing to rapid expansion over recent years. Girard stated: We need to temper the growth of immigration because we had excess growth in 2023-2024, according to reporting.

The PQ aligned with the goal of lowering immigration volume while promising to simplify the architecture for employers and newcomers. Paquet detailed: Yes, our numbers will be lower, but yes, it will be clear how to get in and it will be clear for employers how to renew the permits for their employees, according to reporting.

In contrast, the Conservative Party dismissed the immigration argument as a false debate, according to reporting. Pouliot suggested instead raising the minimum annual income threshold where workers begin paying taxes from $19,000 to $35,000. Pouliot argued: Labor shortages can also be reduced if we reward working people a little more, according to reporting.

Meanwhile, Québec solidaire and the Liberals advocated for program overhauls, including the reinstatement of the Quebec Experience Program. Leduc maintained: The people in the regions who know what their needs are can directly propose some jobs to those people coming from elsewhere, according to reporting. LeBlanc added his critique of the incumbent administration, calling immigration handling This is a major failure for the CAQ, while asserting that And the PQ would do the same, according to reporting.