Bas-Saint-Laurent
The Opportunity: A $1.5 Billion Boost for Québec
Strategic investment in the English-speaking workforce is a critical lever for provincial growth. Closing the employment and income disparities between English and French speakers would add roughly $1.5 billion to Québec’s economy annually. As a candidate in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region, you represent a vital part of this economic opportunity.
Bas-Saint-Laurent Region
Employment Precarity: 55.5% of the English-speaking workforce is engaged in part-time or seasonal work, and 21.7% hold temporary positions.
Key Industries: Labour distribution among English speakers in Bas-Saint-Laurent is concentrated across three sectors: ‘Manufacturing’ (24.2%), ‘Health care and social assistance’ (15.9%), and ‘Educational services’ (8.3%).
Core Challenges in the Bas-Saint-Laurent Region
Educational Access Barriers: There are no English-language post-secondary institutions in the region. Local English speakers are forced to travel or relocate to other regions to pursue higher education or vocational training, disproportionately impacting lower-income individuals.
Deficits in Workforce Francization: Workplace French-language support is limited. Long-term English-speaking residents in the region lack access to French-language training, and transitioning into French post-secondary or work environments remains a significant hurdle.
Wage gaps: The median employment income for English speakers in Bas-Saint-Laurent is $27,800, trailing their French-speaking peers ($32,400) by a margin of $4,600.
Our 2026 Platform Recommendations
We call on all candidates to commit to the following evidence-based pillars:
Increased Funding for On-the-Job Learning Programs: Include English speakers as an underrepresented group in existing job programs for those who struggle to find long-term work or gain work experience in the province.
Industry-Specific French-Language Training: Provide funding to improve the delivery of workforce-oriented French-language training.
Targeted Employment Programs: Adapt and expand existing public employment services, skills training, and employment programs to include English speakers who are an underrepresented group in the labour market.