{"id":8332,"date":"2026-03-18T07:00:55","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T11:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/perspectives-strategies.com\/?p=8332"},"modified":"2026-03-26T13:44:01","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T17:44:01","slug":"quebec-2026-2027-budget-key-measures-businesses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/perspectives-strategies.com\/en\/quebec-2026-2027-budget-key-measures-businesses\/","title":{"rendered":"Quebec\u2019s 2026-2027 Budget: Careful Balancing Act with a Handy Cushion for the Next CAQ Leader"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1738854728614{margin-bottom: 50px !important;}”][vc_column][stm_spacing lg_spacing=”90″ md_spacing=”70″ sm_spacing=”60″ xs_spacing=”50″][vc_custom_heading source=”post_title” font_container=”tag:h1|text_align:center|color:%2300205B” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1742812192014{margin-bottom: 15px !important;}” el_class=”hide_indents mobile_align_center”][stm_post_details][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text css=””]On March 18, Finance Minister \u00c9ric Girard tabled what feels like a transitional budget, the 2026-2027 edition titled \u201cA responsible budget with targeted measures for Quebecers.\u201d Coming at a time of global uncertainty and protectionist threats south of the border, and just weeks before the CAQ chooses its new leader on April 12, the document walks a fine line: it delivers some concrete help without opening the spending floodgates.<\/p>\n

Overall, the government is rolling out nearly\u00a0$9.6 billion<\/strong> in additional measures over five years. The focus is on shoring up public services, giving the economy a nudge, shielding households from cost-of-living pressures, and looking after the most vulnerable, all while sticking to the long-term goal of balancing the books by 2029-2030.<\/p>\n

Fiscal Snapshot\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Quebec\u2019s economy is holding up better than many feared. Real GDP growth is forecast at 0.8% this year, edging up to 1.1% in 2026 and 1.4% in 2027. The deficit for 2026-2027 lands at\u00a0$6.3 billion<\/strong>\u00a0(about 0.9% of GDP), and the net debt-to-GDP ratio continues its slow decline toward 32.5% by 2037-2038. Not flashy, but steady. On the infrastructure front, the Quebec Infrastructure Plan jumps to\u00a0$167 billion<\/strong>\u00a0over ten years, with more than\u00a0$5 billion<\/strong> in extra spending over the next six years. Notably, 71% of the money now goes to maintaining and repairing what we already have a realistic shift given the aging state of roads, bridges, and buildings.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s in It for Businesses?<\/h2>\n

The government is putting over\u00a0$1.7 billion<\/strong>\u00a0toward accelerating Quebec\u2019s economic transformation. Highlights include:<\/p>\n