Tashi Farmilo
LJI Reporter

The Plan PME 2025–2028, unveiled on June 19 by Quebec Ministers Christopher Skeete and
Jean Boulet, is being welcomed as a significant commitment to the province’s small and
medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). With $494 million in funding, the plan aims to support
business growth, succession and regional entrepreneurship amid ongoing economic
uncertainty.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), the country’s largest SME
association, endorsed the initiative as a long-overdue recognition of the sector’s vital role in
Quebec’s economy. “This plan is a step in the right direction,” said François Vincent, CFIB’s
vice-president for Quebec. “Entrepreneurs are under pressure from inflation, labour shortages
and regulatory complexity. Structured support like this can help them remain resilient and grow.”

A key component of the plan targets improved access to government services, an area where
many business owners remain in the dark. A CFIB survey found that a significant number of
SMEs were unaware of available provincial programmes. “Eighty-three percent of owners want
better access to advisory and support services,” Vincent noted. “This plan begins to meet that
demand.”

Led, in part, by Minister Skeete, the initiative also seeks to coordinate provincial efforts under a
more unified framework. Working with regional partners, the government aims to ensure that
support tools are accessible and aligned with the real-world needs of businesses across
Quebec. The broader goal is to boost productivity and competitiveness province-wide.

The CFIB also welcomed measures to reduce regulatory and administrative burdens,
particularly for the smallest firms, which are often disproportionately affected by compliance
obligations. “The paperwork burden is five times heavier for businesses with fewer than five
employees than it is for those with over 100,” said Vincent Pâquet, senior policy analyst at the
CFIB. “When 87 percent of SMEs say excessive regulation hampers productivity, it is more than
a nuisance. It is an economic barrier.”

However, the CFIB cautioned that while the plan addresses structural inefficiencies, it leaves
major fiscal concerns unresolved. “Quebec remains the most tax-unfavourable province in the
country for SMEs,” Vincent said. “It is the only province where the smallest service and
construction firms are denied access to the reduced small business tax rate. Payroll taxes are
also around 30 percent higher than the Canadian average.”

The federation also criticized the continued use of mandatory collective agreement decrees in
certain sectors, a practice unique in North America. “These decrees add paperwork and costs,”
said Pâquet. “They are outdated, and the government has the authority to end them.”​

Still, the CFIB expressed cautious optimism, calling the plan a meaningful first step. “This is a
clear signal that the government is listening to entrepreneurs,” Vincent said. “But the work is not
done. Further reductions in regulatory burden, real tax reform and smarter succession planning
are essential if Quebec’s SMEs are to thrive.”

Photo: At the announcement of the Plan PME 2025–2028 are Guillaume Tremblay (President of
the Union des municipalités du Québec – UMQ), Simon Allaire (MNA for Maskinongé), Sonia
LeBel (President of the Treasury Board and Minister Responsible for Government
Administration), Christopher Skeete (Minister for the Economy and Minister Responsible for the
Fight Against Racism), Jacques Demers (President of the Fédération québécoise des
municipalités – FQM), Jean Boulet (Minister of Labour), and Benoît Richard (President and
CEO of AGT Robotics) (TF) Photo: Li-Ann Laverdière – MEIE