The Chamber represents the interests of the city’s business community and supports businesses in their growth. As a result, it listens to the concerns of its members and takes positions on important issues.
Labour shortage
The time for congratulating ourselves about the low unemployment rate is over
The labour shortage is a priority issue for almost two thirds (63%) of our business community. It is creating major challenges that put the growth of our businesses at risk. In fact, 72% of businesses are facing ongoing salary pressure that is contributing to an inflationary spiral, and 58% say they are losing contracts because they are unable to meet demand, forcing them to review their business models. This shortage is a systemic problem, which will continue to weigh on our economy for the coming years. Given the challenge, the Chamber would like to support businesses by identifying rapid, lasting solutions.
What solutions can respond to the needs of entrepreneurs and businesses?
Discover the Chamber’s content, activities, and training available to help you tackle the issue of the labour shortage
Upcoming activities
- Strategic Forum on the Employee Experience | Spring 2023
- Acclr Talent Services: webinars on equity, diversity and inclusion, professional matching program, virtual recruitment activities and support for job retention
- Info entrepreneurs online resource centre driven by the Chamber’s Acclr experts
Past activities
- Montréal Relève career exploration program – Guiding 900 high school students: workshops in schools, virtual discussions, webinars, exploration internships | January – August 2022
- Prebudget brief Redonner une impulsion durable à notre économie (restoring sustainable momentum in our economy) | February 18, 2022
- Brief Elections 2022: 12 priority requests for businesses | August 25, 2022
- Strategic Forum: Successfully reorganizing the workplace and enhancing the downtown experience | November 18, 2022
Inflation and the risk of recession
Target measures to those in greatest need
Inflation continues to rise at a pace unseen for over 40 years, with an annual increase of 6.9% in September 2022. At the same time, the economic situation is fragile, and Quebec is not immune to a future recession. While Quebecers have to deal with greater tax pressure than their neighbours, the Chamber continues to support relieving the burden on businesses and individuals while ensuring that aid measures go to those who need them most.
How can we face economic uncertainty and make the right business decisions in an inflationary environment?
Discover the Chamber’s content, activities, and training available to help you tackle the issue of inflation and the risk of recession
Upcoming activities
- Conference by Eric Girard, Quebec’s Minister of Finance | December 12, 2022
- Internationalization initiative | Winter 2023
- Strategic Forum on Major Projects and Housing | Spring 2023
Past activities
- Prebudget brief Redonner une impulsion durable à notre économie (restoring sustainable momentum in our economy | February 18, 2022
- Conference by Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister of Canada and Minister of Finance | April 11, 2022
- Brief Budget de la Ville de Montréal – Adopter une approche rigoureuse sur la gestion des finances et miser sur l’agilité réglementaire pour soutenir la prospérité de la metropole (Ville de Montréal budget: adopting a rigorous approach to financial management and harnessing regulatory agility to support the city’s prosperity) | June 9, 2022
- Brief Elections 2022: 12 priority requests for businesses | August 25, 2022
Ecological and energy transition
Supporting businesses in their green transition
A powerful consensus formed in all sectors of society: we need to accelerate the decarbonation of our economy. It is an immense challenge, and the green transition must be done without weakening our economy. While our greenhouse gas emissions barely dropped between 1990 and 2019, Quebec has committed to reducing them by 37.5% by 2030. Massive investment is needed, and we have to ensure that our businesses and workers benefit from it.
How can we help businesses accelerate their green transition? What is the role of the private sector in the decarbonation of the economy?
Discover the Chamber’s content, activities, and training available to help you tackle the ecological and energy transition
Upcoming activities
- Release of the results of the survey Accélération du virage vert dans les PME en milieu urbain (acceleration of the green transition in urban SMEs) | December 2022
- Webinar with Loto-Québec: Comment être une entreprise engagée socialement? (how to be a socially engaged company) | January 26, 2023
- Strategic Forum on the Green Transition in Businesses | April 14, 2023
Past activities
- Forum on the Integration of Environmental, Social and Governance Criteria for Businesses | June 13, 2022
- Brief Elections 2022: 12 priority requests for businesses | August 25, 2022
- Brief Plan d’urbanisme et de mobilité 2050: pour une croissance économique durable (land use and mobility plan 2050: for sustainable economic growth) | October 12, 2022
- Webinar with Fonds de solidarité FTQ: Capitalize ESG criteria to carve out a better position on your market | November 7, 2022
Innovation
Mobilize innovation for the productivity of our businesses
The challenge of increasing business productivity in Quebec continues to have an impact on our economy. Local businesses are less automated than their OECD competitors, which impacts the general productivity of our province. The recent Stratégie québécoise de la recherche et de l’innovation (Quebec research and innovation strategy), implemented by the Government of Quebec, is a step in the right direction. It should make it possible to stimulate investment in the robotics and automation sector while promoting the intellectual property of small businesses in emerging sectors.
How can we contribute to creating stronger ties between the private sector and universities, to put knowledge at the service of the economy? What are the needs of businesses to further integrate automation processes?
Discover the Chamber’s content, activities, and training available to help you tackle the issue of innovation
Upcoming activities
- Webinar: Starting a Biotechnology Business in Quebec: Achievements and Challenges | November 29, 2022
- Conference by Federico Pasin, Director of HEC Montréal | December 1, 2022
- Talk with the rectors of the universities of Montréal, McGill and Concordia | January 24, 2023
- Major event on health innovation jointly produced with Health Innovation District | March 13, 2023
- Artificial intelligence initiative | Winter 2023
- Program to integrate artificial intelligence in businesses AI SPRINT TO BLUEPRINT | Winter 2023
- Info entrepreneurs online resource centre driven by the Chamber’s Acclr experts
Past activities
- IA Meetings | April 8, 2022
- Release of the update of the study The contribution of universities in the Greater Montréal area to the Quebec economy | August 16, 2022
- Trade mission to Paris to the Batimat 2022 trade show | October 2022
Downtown
A vibrant downtown, a key site for decision making
In the heart of the pandemic, the Chamber rapidly mobilized to help downtown Montréal. After months of effort and action by all actors, the situation stabilized, testifying to the robustness of the city’s economy and the positive effect of initiatives conducted to ensure the relaunch of downtown. While Montréal has almost 380 head offices of international or regional businesses, 111 of them downtown, the Chamber wants to continue the mobilization to revitalize this strategic hub for our development and prosperity.
What mechanisms should be put in place to ensure the vitality of downtown? How can the business community contribute to ensuring downtown keeps its position of renowned international asset?
Discover the Chamber’s content, activities, and training available to help you tackle the challenge of downtown
Upcoming activities
- Release of the results of a study on managing construction sites | January 2022
- Release of the results of the CCMM survey on workers returning to downtown | Winter 2023
Past activities
- Obtaining an additional $6 million in financing for phase 2 of the initiative “I love working downtown” | March 31, 2022
- Launch of the platform Espaces et Cie | April 22, 2022
- Major Quebec gastronomy event | June 10, 2022
- Brief Le centre-ville de Montréal à l’horizon 2030: le milieu des affaires identifie 5 principes d’intervention clés (downtown Montréal looking to 2030: the business community identifies 5 principles for key interventions) | July 19, 2022
- Release of the CCMM survey results on the return of workers to downtown | October 12, 2022
- Strategic Forum: Successfully Reorganizing the Workplace and Enhancing the Downtown Experience | November 18, 2022
Internationalization
The international scene central to business growth
The world is experiencing major upheavals, as supply chains remain vulnerable, protectionism gains ground, and inflation is high. In this uncertain environment, businesses may have to rethink their internationalization and talent attraction strategies, two key aspects to ensuring growth and development. New environmental and social criteria are emerging, and the Chamber wants to continue supporting businesses as they go through this difficult period.
What are best practices to promote the city’s internationalization? How can we combine international growth and sustainable development?
Discover the Chamber’s content, activities, and training available to help you tackle the challenge of internationalization
Upcoming activities
- Training in person on U.S. Customs for worry-free exporting to the United States | December 7, 2022
- Conference by Guy LeBlanc, President and CEO of Investissement Québec | December 8, 2022
- Trade mission to Mexico | February 6 to 10, 2023
- Initiative on internationalization | Winter 2023
- Technology and multisector cohorts to support exporters in developing their expansion plans | Winter 2023
- Customized consulting to guide and equip businesses at every stage of their internationalization (ORPEX)
Past activities
- Trade mission to Germany to the Hannover Messe 2022 trade show | May 2022
- Conference by Annalena Baerbock, Germany’s federal Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs | August 3, 2022
- Trade mission to Paris to the Salon Batimat 2022 | October 2022