Montreal, 6 November 2025 – The Provincial Employment Roundtable (PERT) welcomes the Government of Canada’s renewed focus on building a more productive and competitive economy through investments in innovation, skills, and long-term growth in the 2025 federal budget.

For official language minority communities (OLMCs) across Canada, these priorities signal important opportunities to participate more fully in the country’s economic renewal. Achieving these goals, however, will require close collaboration between federal and provincial governments and sustained attention to linguistic and regional realities to ensure that no communities are left behind in Canada’s productivity push.

“Investing in skills and productivity helps ensure that all communities can contribute to Canada’s economic development,” said Nicholas Salter, Executive Director of PERT. “The test now will be turning that vision into measurable outcomes—making sure investments reach diverse regions and linguistic communities, where the potential is ready to be unlocked.”

Within Québec, PERT highlights the province’s English-speaking community as one such opportunity. As Canada’s largest OLMC, English-speaking Quebecers remain an underutilized segment of the labour market—educated, skilled, and eager to contribute more fully to the province’s and country’s growth.

“Supporting the economic participation of English-speaking Quebecers is a productivity strategy,” added Salter. “Our community is ready to help deliver the gains this budget envisions—if the right supports are in place.”

While the federal budget prioritizes broad productivity and innovation measures, PERT’s work complements this national vision by focusing on labour-market research, community partnerships, and evidence-based employability models that help translate economic ambition into tangible workforce outcomes. These community-driven approaches can enhance how federal investments reach diverse populations and strengthen Canada’s overall productivity.

PERT remains committed to collaborating with both levels of government to ensure that new programs and investments benefit diverse communities across Québec, reinforcing a more dynamic and resilient labour market for all Canadians.

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About PERT

The Provincial Employment Roundtable (PERT) works to improve the employment outcomes and economic integration of Québec’s English-speaking community through research & policy, partnerships, and employment initiatives.