This summer, PERT took part in conversations with community  organizations, researchers and partners across Québec, sharing our research and gaining insights into the challenges and opportunities shaping employment and community development. 

Community Voices

Effective employment solutions must reflect the day-to-day realities of the people they serve. This summer, we participated in the Regional Development Network‘s Community Builders Retreat, which brought together provincial and regional organizations to share experiences and strengthen collaboration. 

The event provided a forum for partners to share information, highlight successes and strengthen connections across regions and sectors. We joined the closing panel on Section VII of the Official Languages Act. We discussed how collaboration among community organizations, policymakers, and other partners can help create stronger employment and economic opportunities for Québec’s English-speaking communities. 

Later in June, Morgan Gagnon, Director of Organizational Development, joined a roundtable discussion hosted by McGill University’s School of Continuing Studies for organizations serving Montréal’s English-speaking Black communities. 

The session explored the barriers Black adults face in accessing continuing education and underscored the importance of incorporating community perspectives when designing programs, services and policies. Morgan shared insights from PERT’s research conducted in partnership with Black-led and Black-serving organizations, while also hearing directly from participants about their experiences and priorities. 

Data-Driven Labour Market Intelligence  

Earlier this summer, we also met with Rebecca Webb, Executive Director of the Labour Market Information Council (LMIC), to discuss opportunities to improve access to labour-market intelligence for Québec’s English-speaking communities. 

LMIC’s expertise in advancing and sharing high-quality labour market data aligns with PERT’s commitment to using research to inform employment policy and practice. Through this collaboration, PERT aims to improve how labour market information is analyzed, shared, and used to better understand workforce trends, identify emerging needs and support more effective employment solutions.

By making labour market information more accessible and relevant, this work will help strengthen research, reporting, and decision-making on the employment challenges and opportunities facing Québec’s English-speaking communities.

Research Informing Policy 

We also continued our engagement with government officials. Early in June, we met with Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture, and Minister responsible for Official Languages, to highlight the importance of sustained federal investment in employment initiatives serving Québec’s English-speaking communities. Our discussion emphasized the value of a community-led, “by us, for us” approach to skills development and French-language training—one that reflects local realities, enhances economic participation, and supports long-term productivity. 

The conversation also explored how stronger collaboration between the federal and Québec governments could help community organizations better access funding and deliver employment services, particularly in light of challenges created by Québec’s M-30 legislation, which can create additional administrative requirements for organizations seeking to access certain public funding. These discussions build on PERT’s federal pre-budget submission, which calls for funding approaches that enable community organizations to benefit more fully from federal investments and ensure employment services can reach the people they are intended to support. 

By improving access to these tailored supports, Québec can unlock the potential of more than 28,000 additional skilled workers to help address critical labour shortages in sectors such as healthcare, housing, and infrastructure. 

We also met with Kelly Burke, Canada’s Commissioner of Official Languages, during her visit to Montréal in June. Our conversation focused on the economic impact of persistent employment and income gaps affecting English-speaking Québecers. According to PERT’s State of Employment report, closing these gaps could contribute an estimated $1.5 billion annually to Québec’s economy while strengthening the vitality of the English-speaking community.

Upcoming Research and Initiatives 

The months ahead will bring new opportunities to share research, engage partners and advance solutions to strengthen Quebec’s workforce.

This fall, we will release new research on the labour market experiences of Québec’s English-speaking youth. Drawing on Census data, surveys and youth consultations from across the province, the report explores the barriers young people face as they build their careers, while identifying opportunities to strengthen workforce participation and support youth retention in Québec.

We will also release new research on the employment experiences of unemployed English-speaking women in Montréal who are disconnected from the labour market. Developed with Y des femmes de Montréal, a community organization supporting women and girls across the city. The study examines  how gender, language, and access to services shape employment outcomes, while identifying practical approaches to reducing barriers and expanding  opportunities.

As Québec approaches the 2026 election period, we will continue sharing research findings and recommendations to inform discussions on workforce participation, skills development and inclusive economic growth. 

We look forward to working with our partners in the months ahead and sharing research that helps strengthen employment outcomes across Québec’s English-speaking communities.

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