CCI Response to the 2026-2027 Québec Budget

Today in Quebec City, Finance Minister Eric Girard delivered the 2026-2027 Quebec provincial government budget. In response, CCI Director of Quebec Affairs Jean-Francois Harvey delivered the following statement, on behalf of our members:

“Quebec is currently navigating a pivotal moment amid a deeply uncertain global geopolitical landscape. Our economy is at a crossroads. In this election year, we cannot afford to maintain the status quo. Minister Girard had promised us a sober budget. He delivered on his word in the 2026-2027 budget.

“This budget is riddled with missed opportunities. Most notable are timid investments in artificial intelligence, digital sovereignty, and cybersecurity. There is no clear strategy for adopting AI within government institutions. There is no mention of the digital sovereignty strategy announced by Minister Bélanger just weeks ago, and no information on how the government will be engaging Quebec’s innovation ecosystem in creating this robust strategy. While the federal government has put forward buy-local strategies, Quebec has not stepped up as a leader.

“We welcome the changes made to the tax credit for the development of e-business integrating artificial intelligence, which will make the credit less accessible to foreign companies. We also note several measures to support businesses in their expansion projects and to facilitate the completion of major industrial projects.

“We can applaud the investments aimed at protecting intellectual property and ensuring the sustainability of Axelys, a proven model that has demonstrated its value in recent years. It is also a positive sign to see investments proposed in a sector like construction, with the goal of increasing innovation and productivity. We similarly welcome the investments in training and skills development in targeted areas, including $150 million to continue promoting and elevating engineering disciplines and information technology — sectors where the talent shortage is particularly acute.

“After much talk from the Quebec government about productivity and meeting the moment, this budget falls short where it matters most. While it proposes measures to help businesses modernize and adopt new technologies, the government is still not prepared to lead by example with a procurement strategy rooted in innovation and Quebec’s economic sovereignty. This was the moment to back Quebec’s innovators with real action. Instead, the government missed it.

“In the months ahead, CCI and its Quebec members will continue working to position innovation and digital sovereignty at the heart of the priorities of the parties seeking to govern Quebec. The time for hesitation has passed. We must choose innovation. Quebec's innovators are ready. Let us hope that the government proves itself equal to its ambitions.”

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Media Contact‍

Jean-François Harvey
Director of Québec Affairs
514-831-3023
jfharvey@canadianinnovators.org