Finance Minister Champagne outlines economic plans during Montreal post-budget visit
On Wednesday, Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne visited Montreal as part of his post-budget tour, meeting with business leaders to discuss the federal government’s economic priorities.
The armchair discussion, co-hosted by the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec (FCCQ) and the Chambre de commerce du Montréal métropolitain (CCMM), was led by Véronique Proulx, President and CEO of the FCCQ.
Champagne emphasized the budget is designed to speak directly to Quebec, Montreal, and Canadians at large, including entrepreneurs, innovators, and creators. He noted that municipal leaders across the country have asked for support in infrastructure, and the federal government is responding.
“For the first time, the federal government will be involved in health infrastructure,” he said, referencing investments to modernize hospitals and clinics.
Housing, he added, is a pressing issue not just in Montreal but also in rural areas and across the province, and the government’s investments aim to address this need.
On economic growth, Champagne outlined the government’s plan for “generational, transformational investments” aimed at boosting Canada’s economy, creating high-paying jobs, and empowering workers. He highlighted investments in infrastructure, housing, innovation, productivity, and defence.
He specifically mentioned Quebec’s defence sector as an emerging economic opportunity, noting that both large companies and SMEs in the province are positioned to benefit from new contracts and technological development.
He also addressed immigration, framing it as a matter of sustainability.
“When you admit someone in your country, you have the duty to make sure they can find a home, that they can send their kids to school,” Champagne said.
He says budget measures will provide pathways toward permanent residency for temporary foreign workers who have been in Canada for years and whose children are now integrated into local communities.
Champagne contextualized these investments in the global economy, noting that Canada faces international headwinds and shifting rules from its largest economic partners. Yet he said Canada’s fiscal capacity is enviable, and stressed that the government is balancing bold investment with fiscal responsibility.
“The exercise we carried out to find $60 billion in savings, I think, gives people confidence that on one hand we are ready to invest, but at the same time we will be rigorous in our spending,” he said.
Finally, Champagne highlighted Quebec’s role in the broader federal plan, stating that developing domestic industries will position both the province and the country “viably in the new global economy.”
He praised the budget’s generational scope, noting that investments in social programs, such as child care and school food, have nearly doubled in recent years, and emphasized collaboration with provincial governments to ensure projects meet local priorities.