The Employers Council congratulates Philippe Couillard on his election as Québec premier, leading a majority government

MONTRÉAL, April 8, 2014 The Quebec Employers Council extends its heartfelt congratulations to new Premier-elect, Philippe Couillard, and offers its full collaboration in an effort to define and implement the best possible conditions to encourage Québec's economic prosperity. The Council also congratulates all of the elected members of the National Assembly and extends its thanks to every candidate who ran in this election campaign. While they may not have all won a seat, they have contributed to Québec's democratic vitality.

The Council would also like to especially thank outgoing Premier Pauline Marois for her active and determined participation in governmental affairs throughout her long career.   The Council would also like to pay tribute to her for being Québec's first female premier.

Economy and prosperity 

"For the business community, predictability and political stability are important elements that are considered in their decisions to invest," stated Employers Council president, Yves-Thomas Dorval. "The election of a majority Québec government is a positive sign that may be beneficial for economic growth, provided some strategic decisions are made quickly and the actions stemming from such decisions are implemented with diligence. And this is even more so considering the fact the most difficult decisions for a government always need to be made in the first year of a new mandate."  

With the considerable pressure on public finances which will continue to increase in the coming years, the Employers Council believes it is absolutely essential for the government to focus on two critical issues – reviewing public spending and growing wealth, without letting itself be distracted by any other issue that might hamper or slow down the attainment of these objectives.  

"Quebecers are currently facing issues that will have a major impact on their future, and their quality of life in the years to come," stated Employers Council president Yves-Thomas Dorval. "Consider, for example, our lag in wealth creation, our public debt which continues to deepen, the slow decline of our economy, our rapidly aging population, and the poor state of our infrastructures. Faced with these staggering facts, it is both urgent and imperative that we, as a society, make realistic and responsible choices and consolidate our efforts to ensure our overall prosperity and that of future generations." 

At its annual meeting being held today in Montréal, the Council will be unveiling its new 2014-2017 Platform, which contains a series of recommendations to enhance Québec's prosperity. Québec's new government, and the opposition parties in the National Assembly, can draw inspiration from these recommendations.  

The Quebec Employers Council brings together many of Québec's largest companies and the vast majority of sector-based employers' groups, making it Québec's sole employer federation.

SOURCE: Conseil du patronat du Québec

Patrick Lemieux, Senior Consultant - Communications, Cell.: 438 886 9804