2024–25 Departmental Plan at a glance
A departmental plan describes a department’s priorities, plans and associated costs for the upcoming three fiscal years.
[Read the full departmental plan]
[Print this page]
Key priorities
In the context of an economic slowdown and with the end, in March 2024, of the five post-pandemic economic recovery initiatives marking a return to annual investment levels comparable to those prior to the pandemic, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED) will, in accordance with its mandate, continue to implement its programs with a view to supporting the competitiveness, inclusive growth and sustainable vitality of small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) and communities in all regions of Quebec by intervening strategically for maximum impact and added value.
CED’s key priority for 2024–2025 is to:
- Invest strategically in the sustainable and inclusive growth of SMEs and communities
CED will act within its means and in complementarity with other government agencies to provide SMEs—economic drivers in the regions—with the funding and services they need for their sustainable and inclusive growth, and to ensure that all the regions derive maximum benefit from economic opportunities. To help achieve the government’s priorities, and in light of an uncertain and changing economic context, CED will promote investment in the adoption and adaptation of cutting-edge technologies that support business productivity and growth, notably among manufacturing businesses that contribute to the residential construction industry. CED will also strengthen its commitment to organizations and businesses that have a positive impact on the economic participation of the population at large, such as social economy enterprises, and will maintain its commitment to clean growth.
To this end, CED will leverage its strong regional presence and proximity to businesses and communities and will work with local, provincial and federal partners to maximize the reach of its interventions; ensure the complementarity of efforts in certain areas of intervention; and strengthen its niche in the continuum of federal programs. For example, in line with the Government of Canada’s commitments to the transformation of Montréal’s east end, CED will continue to work with local stakeholders to support development projects that promote the revitalization, attractiveness and sustainable reindustrialization of this area, which has been grappling with major socio‑economic challenges for many years. CED will also pursue its support for the tourism sector by implementing the Tourism Growth Program (TGP), a national initiative to be implemented by the regional development agencies up to March 31, 2026.
Refocusing Government Spending
In Budget 2023, the government committed to reducing spending by $14.1 billion over the next five years, starting in 2023-24, and by $4.1 billion annually after that.
As part of meeting this commitment, CED is planning the following spending reductions:
- 2024-2025: $772,000
- 2025-2026: $1,205,000
- 2026-2027 and after: $1,799,000
CED will achieve these reductions by:
- Refocusing operating expenses, primarily by decreasing spending on travel and professional services; there will be no impact on the funding of CED programs.
The figures in this departmental plan reflect these reductions.
Highlights
A Departmental Results Framework consists of an organization’s responsibilities, the results it plans to achieve, and the performance indicators that measure progress towards these results.
Developing Quebec’s economy
Departmental results
- Quebec businesses are innovative and growing
- Communities are economically diversified in Quebec
- Businesses invest in the development and commercialization of innovative technologies in Quebec
Planned spending: $293,604,291
Planned human resources: 216
In 2024-2025, through its programs and services and in collaboration with various economic players and regional partners, CED will continue to assist SMEs and communities in all regions of Quebec to help them grow, innovate, penetrate new markets, become more competitive and contribute to building a more resilient, sustainable and inclusive economy.
CED will foster innovation, productivity and growth among Quebec businesses by supporting, either directly or with the help of innovation support organizations, the adoption of new cutting-edge technologies such as robotization and digitization; by helping businesses become more competitive on international markets (in compliance with applicable international agreements); and by promoting the capabilities of SMEs and research centres among prime contractors.
CED will also assist businesses with the commercialization of their innovations by helping them integrate new value chains and invest in the adoption, development and commercialization of quantum technologies and quantum-based products.
CED will continue to support the regions to allow them to position themselves and seize development opportunities in a more inclusive and sustainable economy. To this end, CED aims to develop and improve regional tourist destinations to make them more attractive to tourists. CED will also foster increased participation by rural communities and under-represented groups in local development and community vitality efforts by, for example, supporting social economy enterprises.
Further details about CED’s core responsibility to Developing Quebec's economy can be found in the full departmental plan.