Montréal, April 8, 2014 – Following the provincial election, the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal would like to congratulate Premier Philippe Couillard and the Liberal Party on their victory, along with all the candidates who ran and contributed to the democratic process and debate.
“With its majority, the new government has an immediate responsibility to move to create more wealth and jobs,” said Michel Leblanc, President and CEO of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal. “It must put Quebec on the road to prosperity and do everything within its power to bring new economic vitality to Montréal and the entire metropolitan area.”
“During the campaign, the Board of Trade outlined five priorities the government must quickly turn its attention to in order to revive Montréal and restore its role as an economic driver,” Michel Leblanc said. “First of all, the budget needs to be balanced by 2015-2016. Then the government needs to reduce taxes to create conditions conducive to investment.”
“Access to qualified labour is one of the challenges facing the city and its businesses,” Michel Leblanc said. “It is during the mandate that begins today that the consequences of the demographic crunch will start to disrupt the job market. We definitely have to tackle the issue of school retention. But we also have to successfully integrate all the qualified immigrants arriving as reinforcements.”
“With the city’s 375th anniversary approaching, the new Government of Quebec will have to fulfill its commitments, be they covering the Ville-Marie Expressway, investing massively in public transit or, most importantly, accelerating the replacement of aging infrastructures,” Michel Leblanc said. “The city’s economic competitiveness depends on it.”
“Finally, we ask that the new government fulfill its commitment this year to recognize the status of Montréal as Quebec’s largest city,” Michel Leblanc said. “We encourage it to table a bill as soon as possible based on the City of Toronto Act to grant Montréal the powers to fully play its role, starting by allowing it to diversify sources of financing.”
To consult the Board of Trade’s electoral requests, click here.
About the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal is made up of some 7,000 members. Its mission is to represent the interests of the business community of Greater Montréal and to provide individuals, merchants, and local businesses of all sizes with a variety of specialized services to help them achieve their full potential in terms of innovation, productivity, and competitiveness. The Board of Trade is Quebec's
- 30 -
Source:
Michelle LLambias Meunier
Advisor, Media Relations
Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
Tel.: 514 871-4000, ext. 4042
mllambias@ccmm.qc.ca
Facebook: www.facebook.com/chambremontreal
Twitter: @chambremontreal
Follow the discussion: #ccmmqcca