MONTREAL, April 15, 2020– In this period of uncertainty and insecurity for millions of Quebecers, a group of 15 economic, union, social and environmental leaders is mobilizing in an unprecedented surge to support efforts to revive Quebec's economy.
The group responded to the Quebec government's call for recovery by sending it a series of proposals aimed at supporting businesses and workers, as well as their communities, based on the major social, economic and environmental objectives that enjoy broad consensus in Quebec. By putting forward proposals likely to make Quebec more prosperous, more cohesive, greener and more resilient, these leaders are thus answering Premier Legault's call to begin reflecting on how Quebec can emerge stronger and more united from this unprecedented crisis. They have offered to the Government of Quebec to pursue this dialogue together.
The proposals notably aim to support local purchasing and the social economy, to renovate our road infrastructure, to accelerate major public transit projects and to support the electrification of passenger and freight transportation. They also propose supporting the agricultural sector and the resilience of communities, notably through investments in social housing, neighbourhood businesses and energy-efficient renovations. Finally, they aim to ensure a just transition for workers, particularly in industry and manufacturing, toward a low-carbon and resilient economy, for example through the deployment of income support programs. These measures could in particular be financed by an increased contribution from the Generations Fund and by the involvement of public and private financial institutions.
These proposals were developed and supported by the David Suzuki Foundation, the Quebec Employers' Council, the Quebec Federation of Labour, the Social Economy Workshop, Living in the City, Propulsion Quebec, the Order of Urban Planners of Quebec, COPTICOM Strategies and Public Relations, Équiterre, Ecotech Quebec, the Association of Technical Resource Groups of Quebec, the National Network of Quebec's Regional Environmental Councils, the Coalition of Community Groups for Workforce Development, as well as by Annie Chaloux and François Delorme, from the University of Sherbrooke.
SOURCE: Group of 15 economic, union, social and environmental leaders
Information: Christophe Aura, COPTICOM, Strategies and Public Relations, 514-797-7986, caura@copticom.ca
