Montreal
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 Montréal region, you represent the heart of this economic opportunity.
Montréal Region: A Demographic Powerhouse Facing Disparity
Montréal is home to the largest concentration of English speakers in the province. Their success is synonymous with the region's economic vitality.
Labour Force Scale: There are 394,160 English-speaking workers in Montréal, representing 36.4% of the region’s total labour force.
The Unemployment Gap: Despite being highly educated, English speakers in Montréal face an unemployment rate of 11.6%, significantly higher than their French-speaking counterparts (9.3%).
Sector Leaders: The highest share of English-speaking workers in Montréal work in high-demand sectors such as ‘Professional, scientific and technical services’ (13.3%), ‘Retail trade’ (11%) and ‘Health care and social assistance' (10.4%), yet many continue to face language barriers to entry into the predominantly French labour market.
Core Challenges in the Montréal Region
Francization Barriers: Access to flexible, on-the-job French-language training is the primary hurdle for English-speaking professionals and youth.
Service Underfunding: Only 2.8% of provincial employment funding is currently allocated to English-speaking community organizations, despite this community representing 23% of the province’s unemployed population.
Income Inequity: English speakers earn $5,600 less in median employment income than French speakers.
Our 2026 Platform Recommendations
We call on all candidates to commit to the following evidence-based pillars:
Targeted Inclusion: Include English speakers as a formal "targeted group" in the Plan d'action des services publics d'emploi 2026-2027.
Community-Led Delivery: Invest in the “By Us, For Us” model of employment services, leveraging Montréal’s established network of English-speaking community organizations to deliver local, effective support.
A Dedicated French Strategy: Implement a specific action plan for French-language learning designed for English speakers, prioritizing on-the-job French-language training for priority sectors, including health care, social assistance, and professional services.