Question Period Note: Economic recovery in Quebec following the COVID-19 pandemic

Economic recovery in Quebec following the COVID-19 pandemic

• Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions is actively involved in the Government of Canada’s efforts to support businesses in their recovery and long-term prosperity.
• In addition to its regular programs, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions is implemented 5 temporary initiatives, for a total of over 542 million dollars in funding, to help Quebec businesses come out of the pandemic stronger than ever.
• Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions supports sectors that have been hard hit by the pandemic, such as aerospace, tourism and major festival sectors.
• CED supports communities across Quebec who wish to enhance their vitality and contribute to social and economic cohesion.
• Through both its temporary initiatives and regular programs, CED is contributing to a greener, more inclusive recovery, and thus to rebuild better following this pandemic.

Recovery initiatives announced in Budget 2021 and implemented by CED:

Canada Community Revitalization Fund (CCRF):

• A pan-Canadian initiative to assist communities with community infrastructure projects and enhancements to existing infrastructure in order to recover from the effects of the pandemic.
• A grants and contributions budget of $101.7 million is dedicated to Quebec until March 31, 2023.

Tourism Relief Fund (TRF):

• A pan-Canadian initiative to help businesses and organizations in this sector overcome the impacts of the pandemic and position themselves for the future.
• A grants and contributions budget of $115.1 million is dedicated for Quebec until March 31, 2023.

Major Festivals and Events Support Initiative (MFESI):

• A pan-Canadian initiative to help major festivals and events with revenues of more than $10 million in 2017, 2018 or 2019, overcome the impacts of the pandemic and position themselves for the future.
• A grants and contributions budget of $100 million is dedicated for Quebec until March 31, 2023.

Festivals and events that are eligible for the MFESI are:

• Osheaga
• Carnaval de Québec
• FrancoFolies de Montréal
• Festival Western de Ste-Tite
• Festival d’été international de Québec
• Montreal International Jazz Festival
• Just for Laughs
• ComediHa! Fest-Québec
• National Bank Open (Rogers Cup Montréal – Tennis Canada)

Jobs and Growth Fund (JGF):

• A pan-Canadian initiative to help businesses and the organizations that support them build resilience and grow.
• A grants and contributions budget of $135.8 million is dedicated for Quebec until March 31, 2024.

Aerospace Regional Recovery Initiative (ARRI):

• A pan-Canadian initiative to help the Canadian aerospace industry, and more specifically SMEs, emerge from the pandemic by strengthening its ability to compete on the world stage.
• A grants and contributions budget of $89.7 million is dedicated to Quebec until March 31, 2024.

Examples of a project supported by the recovery initiatives:

• CCRF: The non-refundable assistance of $73,712 authorized in March 2022 will allow the Jardin communautaire écologique Les Coccinelles de Bromont to expand and improve the gardening spaces by carrying out redevelopment work and making garden plots, some of which will be adapted for people with disabilities or reduced mobility.
• TRF: The project aims to develop the tourism offer of [ÈST] éco-cabines inc. which is a business located in Nouvelle in Gaspésie and which offers "glamping" type tourist accommodation. The $100,000 grant authorized in March 2022 allowed for the construction and development of a spa and relaxation areas.
• MFESI: The $9,480,000 project aims to adapt and improve the product and experience offering of the Festival d'été de Québec, which includes a series of measures and activities to position the event in a post-pandemic reality and improve the customer experience.
• JGF: In June 2022, CED authorized a non-repayable contribution of $2,803,872 to Collectes Coderr, a social economy enterprise located in Alma that conducts collection, dismantling and recovery of residual materials. The CED assistance will be used to finance the expansion of the building and the addition of a disassembly line with digital equipment. Thus, this value chain based on the principles of the circular economy will be improved and its capacity to recycle and recover waste will be increased.
• ARRI: Located in Laval, Quebec, M1 Composites (M1) offers a full range of specialized services for the aerospace industry, including engineering, manufacturing and repair of components. In February 2022, CED authorized a repayable contribution of $3,000,000 to M1 to improve its productivity and strengthen its integration into the regional and global supply chain.

Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED) is actively contributing to the economic recovery in Quebec following the COVID-19 pandemic. Through recovery initiatives announced in Budget 2021, CED supports non-profit businesses and organizations, with a specific focus on the hardest hit sectors, such as tourism.