Tashi Farmilo
LJI Reporter

Charles Milliard, a pharmacist and former President of the Fédération des chambres de
commerce du Québec (FCCQ), has built his public life around a simple principle: leadership
begins with listening.

Drawing on years of experience in healthcare, business, and community service, Milliard
believes strongly in economic renewal through targeted support for small and medium-sized
enterprises (SMEs). He advocates reducing the SME tax rate from 11.5% to 10%, introducing
tax incentives for smooth business succession, and exempting employer contributions to the
Health Services Fund for five years—measures aimed squarely at stimulating local growth. “Our
SMEs are the backbone of our prosperity,” Milliard said, emphasizing the need to dismantle
interprovincial and international trade barriers so Quebec businesses can thrive in new markets.

On healthcare, Milliard proposes concrete solutions to address chronic underfunding, especially
in underserved areas such as the Outaouais. He suggests legislation guaranteeing salary parity
for health-care workers with their Ontario counterparts, along with a $200 million investment in
regional health-care infrastructure and workforce retention. “Quebecers work hard, pay high
taxes, and deserve accessible, quality healthcare,” he insisted, emphasizing prevention,
innovation, and efficiency rather than harmful cuts.

Milliard’s education platform calls for significant reform, advocating the creation of a professional
order for teachers to elevate the profession, standardize training, and ensure accountability. He
believes modernizing the curriculum is essential to reducing dropout rates, particularly among
young boys. “We must build a system that gives every child, in every region, an equal
opportunity to succeed,” he stated.

Youth engagement is also central to Milliard’s vision. Inspired by younger members of his
community, he supports mandatory paid internships to help students manage the rising cost of
living. He argues that young people deserve a meaningful seat at the political table, as their
voices are critical for Quebec’s future.

On the sensitive issue of language, Milliard maintains a balanced approach. He is committed to
strengthening French through enhanced francization programs while respecting minority
communities. He emphasizes dialogue and unity over division, believing that linguistic diversity,
approached respectfully, strengthens Quebec.

With growing concerns about misinformation and AI-generated deepfakes, Milliard underscores
the importance of safeguarding Quebec’s media. “Quebecers deserve objective, reliable
information, and safeguarding the integrity of our news media is vital to our democracy,” he said.
Reflecting broadly on his public service, Milliard distilled his vision into a straightforward
principle: “Political engagement should inspire pride rather than hostility.”​

Photo: Charles Milliard, a pharmacist and former business leader, emphasizes listening,
economic growth through targeted SME support, and reforming healthcare and education. He
advocates engaging Quebec’s youth through paid internships, promoting linguistic harmony, and
safeguarding journalism by clearly labeling AI-generated content. Ultimately, Milliard argues
political engagement should inspire pride, not hostility. (TF) Photo courtesy of Charles Milliard