Briefing binder for the Acting Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for CED - 2025
About this publication
Publication author: Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
Publish date: May 20, 2025
Table of Contents
- CED: Mandate and Strategic Approach
- Intervention Priorities
- Means of action (Programs and Initiatives)
CED: Mandate and Strategic Approach
Regional development: Canada’s approach
- Regional economic development helps reduce economic disparities among regions and promote balanced, sustainable growth across Canada
- Allows for leveraging of the specific advantages of each region, fostering local job creation and strengthening economic resilience in the face of external shocks
Text version of Regional representation
| Province/Territory | Regional development agency support |
|---|---|
| Nunavut | Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) |
| Yukon | Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) |
| Northwest Territories | Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) |
| British Columbia | Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan) |
| Saskatchewan | Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) |
| Alberta | Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) |
| Manitoba | Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) |
| Ontario | Northern Ontario: Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario (FedNor) Southern Ontario: Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) |
| Quebec | Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED) |
| New Brunswick | Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) |
| Nova Scotia | Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) |
| Prince Edward Island | Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) |
The only federal entities with a mandate firmly rooted in regional dynamics
- Deliver programs tailored to all communities in their region, including small and rural communities
- Make up part of a continuum of support for businesses, thus ensuring the coherence and complementarity of interventions by:
- Other federal agents
- Provincial and economic players in the regions
- High added value:
- Create conditions for growth for, and with, the regions
- Build on local assets and players
- Support flexible, regional solutions focused on SMEs and ecosystems
CED: a key federal partner in Quebec’s regional economic development
Mission
“Promote the long-term economic development of the regions of Quebec by giving special attention to those where slow economic growth is prevalent or where opportunities for productive employment are inadequate.
Foster co-operation and complementarity with Quebec and its communities.” - Section 10 of the Act
We support Quebec businesses and the regions of Quebec as they transition to the economy of tomorrow—a greener and more innovative and inclusive economy.
- By focusing our interventions on SMEs, directly or through non-profit economic organizations
- By focusing on innovation and diversification as levers of development
- By prioritizing projects that generate long-term economic benefits
- By doing more than just funding promising projects: CED acts as a facilitator, helping bring together the right partners around a given project
A distinct role within a continuum of federal aid
| Main Clientele | Main Types of Projects | Tageted Sectors | Type of Assistance Offerred | Funding Amount | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CNRC-PARI | SMEs | R&D Demonstration |
All |
Non-repayable Advisory services | Less than $10M | R&D |
| RDAs |
SMEs |
SMEs: Growth
(launch, productivity, commercialization, growth)
NPOs: Guidance for SMEs, structuring of regional ecosystems |
All (focus on manufacturing and value-added services) | Repayable
(interest-free)
Non-repayable |
Generally less than $3M (e.g.: CED 77% of projects – under $500K) | Flexible regional solutions focused on SMEs and support ecosystems |
| BDC | SMEs |
Variable | All | Commercial loans
Risk capital Advisory services |
Variable | Commercial bank |
| Global clusters (ISED) | Ecosystems Businesses | Structuring of national ecosystems Projects involving small and large businesses |
5 clusters | Repayable Non-repayable |
Variable | R&D commercialization |
| FSI / Net-Zero Accelerator (ISED) | Large businesses Ecosystems (NPOs/consortia) |
R&D Demonstration Commercialization |
All | Repayable Non-Repayable |
Over $20M (and more above $50M) | Major projects |
| Canada Growth Fund | Variable | Structural projects for a decarbonized economy | Low-carbon | Multiple tools (debt, equity…) | Variable | Major projects |
| Sectoral departments | Variable | Variable | Each with its own sector | Non-repayable and repayable | Variable | Sectoral approach |
Distinct place-based service offer
National Priorities and Policies
- Fosters reflection at the national level
- Program design and implementation tailored to actual needs on the ground
An economic development approach rooted in the community (place-based)
- Funding tailored to Needs: Provide financial support and ensure risk-sharing, by delivering regional programs that promote growth through innovation, the green transition, and economic diversification; and national initiatives to address targeted economic issues
- Credible antennae on the ground: Promote the regional lens and provide on-the-ground intelligence regarding pan-Canadian government programs and for interdepartmental collaborative projects
- Coordinated response: Ensure synergy, networking and complementarity of interventions by co-operating with various partners and levels of government (federal, provincial and municipal; Indigenous communities; economic development agencies; universities; and other community stakeholders)
- Support: Support SMEs in their forward-looking projects at all stages of their development (referrals, networking, etc.)
Intervention logic based on regional realities
Expertise firmly rooted in the regions with 12 business offices across Quebec
Text version:
Legend:
- Head Office
- Business Office
- Business Offices Territories
- High Potential
- Low Potential
Regions:
- Abitibi Témiscamingue - Nord du Québec
- Saguenay - Lac Saint Jean
- Côte-Nord
- Gaspésie - Îles-de-la-Madeleine
- Bas-St-Laurent
- Québec - Chaudière-Appalaches
- Mauricie
- Centre-du-Québec
- Cantons-de-l’Est
- Inter-regional Initiatives Directorate
- Greater Montreal
- Outaouais
Interventions tailored based on...
...the reality on the ground
- Sub-regional disparities: 75 of the 104 regional county municipalities (RCMs) have lower economic development potential
- Factors that influence development in the various regions: workforce, market access, entrepreneurial pool, single-industry status, demographics, urban and rural areas, resources, Indigenous land, etc.
- The strengths and assets specific to each region and upon which they can rely for their economic development
...the broader institutional setting
- CED seeks complementarity with the actions of the Government of Quebec and players on the ground
- CED benefits from a Quebec government omnibus decree that facilitates the implementation of its programs when dealing with organizations subject to Quebec’s M-30 legislation
An approach that takes Quebec’s specific institutional context into account
A host of key players structure the lives of members of the public and businesses, identify needs, formulate policies and implement interventions
Interventions by CED and the federal government must take into account
- The Act that governs intergovernmental affairs: M-30
- The Government of Quebec, which actively intervenes and uses these key structures and actors
Actors
- Interventionism of provincial government organizations in a number of areas, including digitization, tourism, etc.
- Weight and complexity of the patchwork of support organizations (NPOs) in Quebec
Area
- 17 administrative regions
- 104 RCMs
- 1,131 municipalities
- Nearly 60 Indigenous communities
Education
- Network of CPEs (daycares)
- CEGEPs and Université du Québec network
- CCTTs: college centres for technology transfer
Economy and business
- Investissement Québec
- Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec
- Montréal International
- Québec International
- ORPEX (Exports)
- ATRs-ATSs (Tourism)
- Sector clusters
Energy and the environment
- Hydro-Québec
- Horizontal industrial clusters (ÉcoTech, Propulsion QC)
Intervention Priorities
Interventions aligned with Government of Canada priorities...
Results for Canadians:
- Government of Canada Priorities
- CED’s Departmental Plan
- CED's implementation Priorities and Budget
- Regional Intervention Strategies
- Projects
Responding to Quebec's economic challenges
Major transitions
- Technology (artificial intelligence, quantum, energy, genomic)
- Demographics (aging, immigration, labour force participation rate among youth, foreign workers)
- Geopolitical tensions (conflicts, protectionism, resources, industrial transition)
- Climate change (infrastructure, natural disasters, government and business standards)
Productivity
- Issues
- Underinvestment by businesses
- Issues related to business size and sectors
- Intervention priorities
- Increase the competitiveness and development of Quebec businesses
- Promote community vitality
- Support economic resilience among businesses and regions (targeted and temporary measures)
Workforce
- Issues
- Tightening of the labour market
- Matching skills to the labour market
- Intervention priorities
- Increase the competitiveness and development of Quebec businesses
- Promote community vitality
- Support economic resilience among businesses and regions (targeted and temporary measures)
Innovation and Commercialization
- Issues
- Low investment in R&D
- Delays in adoption of innovations
- Protectionism
- Intervention priorities
- Increase the competitiveness and development of Quebec businesses
- Promote community vitality
- Support economic resilience among businesses and regions (targeted and temporary measures)
Entrepreneurship
- Issues
- Low entrepreneurship rate
- Business succession
- Business succession « scale-up »
- Intervention priorities
- Increase the competitiveness and development of Quebec businesses
- Promote community vitality
- Support economic resilience among businesses and regions (targeted and temporary measures)
Community Prosperity
- Issues
- Infrastructure renewal
- Financial pressures (interest, housing, etc.)
- Variable capacity to attract talent and investments
- Intervention priorities
- Increase the competitiveness and development of Quebec businesses
- Promote community vitality
- Support economic resilience among businesses and regions (targeted and temporary measures )
Taking into account the sectors that structure regional economies...
The importance of SMEs in Quebec, all sectors combined*
- More than 275,000 SMEs in Quebec, 72% of which have fewer than 10 employees
- SMEs account for 87% of private sector jobs in the province
CED prioritizes manufacturing sectors and high value-added services
- CED sees sectors as vectors of long-term structuring growth in a given region
*Source: Statistics Canada, Business Register 2022-IV and Industry Canada, Key Small Business Statistics (2022)
Text version:
- Abitibi-Témiscamingue Nord-du-Québec
- Mining
- Wood processing
- Tourism
- Saguenay - Lac-Saint-Jean
- Aluminum
- Food processing
- Wood processing
- Côte-Nord
- Mining
- Aluminum
- Tourism
- Gaspésie - Îles-de-la-Madeleine
- Food processing
- Fisheries
- Tourism
- Bas-St-Laurent
- Food processing
- Machine manufacturing
- Wood processing
- Québec - Chaudière-Appalaches
- Metal products
- Medical equipment manufacturing
- Computer products
- Machine manufacturing
- Cantons-de-l’Est (Estrie and Montérégie)
- Machine manufacturing
- Furniture
- Metal products
- Centre-du-Québec (Centre-du-Québec and Montérégie)
- Food processing
- Machine manufacturing
- Metal products
- Greater Montréal (Montréal, Laval, Laurentides, Lanaudière and Montérégie)
- Aerospace
- Software and video games
- Logistics and transportation of goods
- Computer systems
- Mauricie (Mauricie and Lanaudière)
- Machine manufacturing
- Software and video games
- Metal products
- Outaouais (Outaouais and Laurentides)
- Food processing
- Computer systems
- Tourism
Means of Action (Programs and Initiatives)
Our grant and contribution programs...
Regional Innovation
Support the growth, productivity and competitiveness of SMEs through innovation, and through the development of an innovative regional entrepreneurial environment
- Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI)
Community Vitality
Promote the growth of regions and communities by strengthening their entrepreneurial and industrial fabric through economic diversification; the enhancement of their assets, including tourism; the promotion of foreign investment; and support for economic participation
- Quebec Economic Development Program (QEDP)
- Community Futures Program (CFP)
- Economic Development Initiative – Official Languages (EDI-OL)
Temporary and Targeted Support
Develop and implement temporary initiatives to meet specific needs, with dedicated funding
- National initiatives
- Support for Regional Quantum Innovation
- Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative
- Northern Isolated Community Initiatives Fund
- Tourism Growth Program
- Initiatives specific to Quebec
- Lac-Mégantic Economic Recovery Initiative
- Targeted Support for Quebec’s Economically Vulnerable RCMs
- Support for Social Economy Mutualization Projects
Provide direct and indirect support to SMEs at all stages of their development...
| CED Support | Business Startups | Innovation | Productivity Enhancement |
Commercialization / Market Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Projects: | ||||
|
Regional Innovation:
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Examples of activities funded:
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Community Vitality:
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| Support for SMEs | ||||
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Regional Innovation:
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Community Vitality:
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Examples of activities funded:
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Using our investment approach
Sharing of financial risks / leveraging efforts
SMEs
- Interest-free repayable contributions, generally without guarantee
- Repayment moratorium generally two years
- Repayment generally spread out over five years after the moratorium
NPOs
- Non-repayable contributions
Business-focussed interventions aimed at generating regional benefits
| Age | 9.2 |
|---|---|
| Number of Employees | 20 |
| Sales Revenue | $2.7M |
| Main Area of Activity | Manufacturing |
*The median provides a picture of our typical SME clientele. CED does, however, support SMEs of all sizes, and the amount of funding awarded depends on the nature of the project.
Types of NPOs Funded (non-exhaustive)
- Industrial clusters
- Incubators/accelerators
- Technology transfer centres
- Promoting and structuring tourist attractions
- Attracting direct foreign investment
- Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs) / Business Development Centres (BDCs) (in rural areas)
Which materialize into good projects
Major investments in strategic sectors
- Agri-food = $191 million
- Information technology = $188 million
- Aerospace = $125 million
- Health = $76 M
- Aluminum = $46 M
Investments by region type
- Urban = $1.369 billion
- Manufacturing = $1.277 billion
- Resources = $575 million
- Regional
Innovation
- Outaouais: $200 000 in funding for Qeen Biotechnologies inc. to support the production and commercialization of innovative solutions from a biomedical start-up
- Québec–Chaudière-Appalaches: $1 million in funding for Laserax inc. to commercialize a new technology for the battery sector from an innovative business specializing in industrial laser systems
- Centre-du-Québec: $750,000 in funding to Valothanol inc. to launch a business that manufactures second-generation ethanol, in line with the circular economy
- Cantons-de-l’Est: $500,000 in funding to Meubles Mobican Furniture inc. to launch of a new, greener, automated plant by a high-end contemporary residential furniture manufacturer
- Greater Montréal: $100,000 in funding to Sinistar inc. to commercialize the innovative digital platform for renting buildings in the event of a disaster developed by a fast-growing start-up
- Côte-Nord: $1,079,996 in funding to Centre d'entrepreneuriat et de valorisation des innovations de la Côte-Nord to develop an innovation and technology transfer ecosystem for businesses and organizations, particularly with major prime contractors and the mining sector
- Abitibi-Témiscamingue–Nord-du-Québec: $1,028,122 in funding to Les Maisons Nordique inc. to expand and digitize the factory of a business that manufactures prefabricated houses and modules adapted to northern conditions
- Community Vitality
- Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine: $403 018 in funding to the MRC de La Côte-de-Gaspé to support the community and fisheries businesses in their economic diversification
- Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean: $2,803,872 to Collectes Coderr to improve the productivity and production capacity of an organization specializing in the disassembly and recovery of small refrigeration appliances
- Interregional: $2.35 million to the Chantier de l’économie sociale provide specialized guidance to support the growth of social economy businesses in all regions
Targeted Support
- Bas-Saint-Laurent: $800,000 in funding to Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) Wahsipekuk First Nation to develop a new tourist attraction (a beluga observation site) while following eco-responsible practices so that the community can benefit from post-pandemic market opportunities
- Mauricie : $275,000 to Domaine du Lac-Édouard to improve the reception infrastructure and range of services of a major tourist attraction for the Haut-St-Maurice region.
That produce results and tangible benefits
Total investments: From 2016-2017 to October 1, 2024 *: $3.220M
Regular Program
- Regional Innovation: $1.346M
- Community Vitality: $749M
One-time and Targeted Initiatives
- Targeted Support: $1.126M
Text version:
| Invested by CED | Invested by its partners in the projects |
|---|---|
| $1 | $3.8 |
* Data based on projects with expenditures. Subject to change.
Our budgets: expenditure profile and trends
Text version:
| 2016-2017 | 2017-2018 | 2018-2019 | 2019-2020 | 2020-2021 | 2021-2022 | 2022-2023 | 2023-2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operations | 41 499 367 | 44 590 099 | 43 282 004 | 45 785 111 | 48 563 262 | 52 701 215 | 52 551 576 | 56 006 701 |
| Initiatives | 48 888 891 | 62 482 563 | 11 463 957 | 47 562 012 | 258 209 323 | 139 958 774 | 268 731 957 | 260 904 563 |
| Reg. programs | 225 536 785 | 204 343 221 | 238 390 883 | 231 275 603 | 243 598 198 | 251 177 741 | 222 831 187 | 246 271 538 |
| Total | 315 925 043 | 311 415 883 | 293 136 844 | 324 622 726 | 550 370 783 | 443 837 730 | 544 114 720 | 563 182 802 |
Text version:
| 2016-2017 | 2017-2018 | 2018-2019 | 2019-2020 | 2020-2021 | 2021-2022 | 2022-2023 | 2023-2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTE trends | 330 | 320 | 322 | 334 | 359 | 393 | 380 | 379 |
Organizational structure
Text version:
- Minister
- Deputy Minister / President of CED (Sony Perron)
- Quebec Federal Council
- Vice-President Policy and Communications
- Vice-President Corporate Services
- Vice-President Operations
- Chief of Staff
- Legal Services
- Vice-President Policy and Communications
- Vice-President Corporate Services
- Vice-President Operations
- Chief of Staff
- Quebec Federal Council
- Deputy Minister / President of CED (Sony Perron)
Are you being asked questions?
Useful key messages about CED
- Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions is the key federal partner in regional economic development in Quebec.
- Through its 12 community-focused business offices located across Quebec, CED assists businesses and the regions with a view to boosting the prosperity of our economy and our communities by supporting projects that generate long-term economic benefits.
- CED acts as an accelerator of economic growth: its interventions support regional innovation, the growth of SMEs, the vitality of Quebec communities, and the long-term competitiveness of our economy, specifically by helping accelerate its environmental transition.
- CED also plays a key integration and networking role to help bring together the right partners around a given project.
- CED maintains close collaborative relations with its federal partners and the Government of Quebec and aims for complementarity of approaches.
Onboarding
Supporting you so you can assume your duties smoothly and rapidly
- Knowing your needs and offering you our support
- Putting into place the necessary processes so you are functional as quickly as possible
Understanding the direction you wish to take
- Discussing your priorities for action and offering you our best advice
- Presenting and discussing our current initiatives and programs
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