Quebec injects $1.5B into economy with 'buy local' decree on government contracts
Cabinet adopts decree reserving public contracts for Quebec and Canadian companies as trade tensions escalate with the U.S.
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Quebec will reserve public contracts for companies with operations in Quebec and Canada, injecting an additional $1.5 billion into the province's economy over four months, Premier Christine Fréchette announced Tuesday, September 8.
The Cabinet adopted a decree requiring government procurement to prioritize Quebec and Canadian businesses. Goods must be produced and processed domestically, and companies may receive a preferential margin of 15 per cent based on value added in Quebec or Canada.
The move follows federal retaliatory tariffs that took effect Tuesday against U.S. goods as the trade war between Canada and the Trump administration intensifies.
The decree targets sectors most affected by American tariffs, though the government has not specified which product categories and threshold values trigger the 15 per cent preferential margin.
What specific product categories and threshold values trigger the 15 per cent preferential margin?
How much in public contracts did Quebec award in the previous fiscal year before this $1.5 billion commitment?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
How much money will Quebec's economy receive from this decree?
$1.5 billion over four months.
What preferential margin can Quebec and Canadian companies receive on government contracts?
Companies may receive a preferential margin of 15 per cent based on value added in Quebec or Canada.
