Finance committee  Yes, I'm aware of what you say about our request and a balanced budget. Earlier I said I wouldn't get political. However, since we are the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec, the chambers of commerce tell us about problems and issues concerning Quebec's entrepreneurs.

Finance committee  When we request a number of fiscal or economic support measures for small, medium-sized and large businesses, it's also important to have enviable public finances. However, I would remind you that we're in a relatively enviable position compared to many OECD countries. Canada is

Finance committee  I'll leave it to you to engage in politics. People here do that very well.

Finance committee  Whatever the case may be, Canada's credit rating is either a virtuous or a vicious circle. It has an impact on international borrowing costs, the kind of people who want to do business with us internationally and the quality of our free trade agreements. It affects entrepreneurs

Finance committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Good morning, everyone. My name is Charles Milliard. I am president and chief executive officer of the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec. With me is my friend and colleague Mathieu Lavigne, who is our director of public and economic affairs. A

Finance committee  Thank you for the question, Mr. Ste-Marie. I will start and I will let my colleague complete my answer. In terms of the labour shortage, it's important to understand that a number of levers must be moved at the same time. Often, it can be more helpful to refer to just one lever

Finance committee  The retraining issue leads me to the reform of the employment insurance program. This is not a criticism, but I feel that the employment insurance account, as a concept, has been used very broadly during the pandemic. However, right from when we start to reform the system, we hav

Finance committee  Good morning, everyone. My name is Charles Milliard, and I am the president and chief executive officer of the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec, or FCCQ. I am joined by my colleague Mathieu Lavigne, director of public and economic affairs. The federation—which I be

Citizenship and Immigration committee  The goal of the transition plan is to transit the use of temporary immigrants. However, in the current situation, especially in Quebec, we know very well that most people see the TFWP as permanent. It would be hypocritical not to admit that. In the current context, the obligatio

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I agree with Ms. Gagné. In Quebec, the unemployment rate is somewhat enviable right now. Just because people are looking for a job doesn't mean the right job is available. The needs of the employer and the position that the unemployed person is looking for do not necessarily meet

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I thank the member for his kind words. Before the pandemic, the lack of labour was the main problem in Quebec. I think it was in Canada as well. That's one thing that the virus hasn't changed, and that remains the sensitive issue that nobody wants to talk about right now. The l

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Thank you very much. Hello, everyone. Madam Chair, members of Parliament, thank you for the opportunity to discuss with you the labour market impact assessments that employers must conduct when hiring temporary foreign workers. This topic is of great interest to the Fédératio

Finance committee  I completely agree with Mr. Roy. Programs shouldn't be cut. They should be made more restrictive for people who aren't allowed to do business right now. Restaurant owners don't have the opportunity to do business, for example. Hotel owners have the opportunity, although we know

Finance committee  Mr. Lavigne, do you want to respond?

Finance committee  Mr. Roy, do you want to respond?