At the announcement of the Plan PME 2025–2028 are Mr. Guillaume Tremblay (President of the Union des municipalités du Québec – UMQ), Mr. Simon Allaire (MNA for Maskinongé), Ms. Sonia LeBel (President of the Treasury Board and Minister Responsible for Government Administration), Mr. Christopher Skeete (Minister for the Economy and Minister Responsible for the Fight Against Racism), Mr. Jacques Demers (President of the Fédération québécoise des municipalités – FQM), Mr. Jean Boulet (Minister of Labour), and Mr. Benoît Richard (President and CEO of AGT Robotics). Photo: Li-Ann Laverdière – MEIE
Plan PME 2025–2028 draws praise from business community for backing small enterprises
Tashi Farmilo
The Plan PME 2025–2028, unveiled on June 19 by Quebec Ministers Christopher Skeete and Jean Boulet, is being welcomed as a significant commitment to the province’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). With $494 million in funding, the plan aims to support business growth, succession and regional entrepreneurship amid ongoing economic uncertainty.
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (FCEI), the country’s largest SME association, endorsed the initiative as a long-overdue recognition of the sector’s vital role in Quebec’s economy. “This plan is a step in the right direction,” said François Vincent, FCEI’s vice-president for Quebec. “Entrepreneurs are under pressure from inflation, labour shortages and regulatory complexity. Structured support like this can help them remain resilient and grow.”
A key component of the plan targets improved access to government services, an area where many business owners remain in the dark. An FCEI survey found that a significant number of SMEs were unaware of available provincial programmes. “Eighty-three percent of owners want better access to advisory and support services,” Vincent noted. “This plan begins to meet that demand.”
Led in part by Minister Skeete, the initiative also seeks to coordinate provincial efforts under a more unified framework. Working with regional partners, the government aims to ensure that support tools are accessible and aligned with the real-world needs of businesses across Quebec. The broader goal is to boost productivity and competitiveness province-wide.
The FCEI also welcomed measures to reduce regulatory and administrative burdens, particularly for the smallest firms, which are often disproportionately affected by compliance obligations. “The paperwork burden is five times heavier for businesses with fewer than five employees than it is for those with over 100,” said Vincent Pâquet, senior policy analyst at the FCEI. “When 87 percent of SMEs say excessive regulation hampers productivity, it is more than a nuisance. It is an economic barrier.”
However, the FCEI cautioned that while the plan addresses structural inefficiencies, it leaves major fiscal concerns unresolved. “Quebec remains the most tax-unfavourable province in the country for SMEs,” Vincent said. “It is the only province where the smallest service and construction firms are denied access to the reduced small business tax rate. Payroll taxes are also around 30 percent higher than the Canadian average.”
The federation also criticised the continued use of mandatory collective agreement decrees in certain sectors, a practice unique in North America. “These decrees add paperwork and costs,” said Pâquet. “They are outdated, and the government has the authority to end them.”
Still, the FCEI expressed cautious optimism, calling the plan a meaningful first step. “This is a clear signal that the government is listening to entrepreneurs,” Vincent said. “But the work is not done. Further reductions in regulatory burden, real tax reform and smarter succession planning are essential if Quebec’s SMEs are to thrive.”