Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions

Happy Fête nationale du Québec! On this day of festivities, let's highlight the commitment of Quebec's SMEs and entrepreneurs, who contribute to the economic vitality of La Belle Province. Thank you!

Canadian Heritage

The National Food Security Strategy that was launched today will help strengthen the Canadian agriculture sector’s food supply chain over the next ten years in four key ways:

• A $1B investment in food infrastructure, including food terminals and hubs, to help independent grocers compete and drive down prices for consumers🛒

• Building on previous initiatives that help small and medium-sized processors by creating a new $1B Agri-food Project Finance Fund under Farm Credit Canada🥫

• Reducing reliance on imports by investing $750M in controlled environment agriculture, like greenhouses, that support growing fruits and vegetables year-round🍓

• Cutting red tape by helping provincially-licensed food businesses meet federal requirements so their products can be sold across Canada✂️

Want to learn more? Check out the full strategy here: https://ow.ly/6JEM50ZaIHh

AI is at the centre of a transforming technological world – changing how people live and work, how businesses compete, and how countries protect their sovereignty.

Today, to ensure that AI is adopted responsibly, in a way that truly serves all Canadians, Prime Minister Carney launched AI for All, Canada’s new National Artificial Intelligence Strategy.

Over the next five years, this strategy will introduce new legislation, investments, and programs to help build trust, expand opportunities, and reinforce control of Canada’s sovereignty.

Learn more: https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2026/06/04/prime-minister-carney-launches-ai-all-canadas-new-national-artificial

From Cowansville to the Moon, an inspiring homegrown success!

How did a Cantons-de-l’Est SME make it all the way into space?

CED client Happy Yak, a business specializing in freeze-dried meals for outdoor consumption, took an outstanding step forward in spring 2026: Its products accompanied Canadian Space Agency Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen during the Artemis II mission, the first manned flight around the Moon in over 54 years.

The business’s vision is clear: design light, nutritional, tasty meals adapted to the reality in the field, whether on a mountain or in orbit.

Founded by Christine Chénard and Guy DuBuc, Happy Yak has been able to transform a passion for the outdoors and food innovation into recognized expertise, to the point of being able to meet the rigorous requirements of the space sector.

Thanks to CED’s funding, Happy Yak has been able to:

- Modernize its production equipment
- Install an integrated management system (ERP)
- Increase its capacity and boost its growth

A story that illustrates perfectly how support for homegrown businesses helps to propel ambitious ideas towards new horizons!

Click here on the link in comments to learn more about Happy Yak.

The PWHL champions wear 100% Quebec-made jerseys!

Congratulations to the players of Victoire de Montréal on winning the Walter Cup!

Theirs is a triumph with an undeniably Quebec flavour.

Since the league’s inaugural season in 2023, the jerseys for the league’s eight teams have been produced by our client: the Maskoutain-based company Les Vêtements SP Apparel .

There, every day, 250 people contribute to the manufacture of jerseys and equipment for various professional leagues, including the 10 women’s Olympic teams that took part in the Milan-Cortina tournament in the winter of 2026.

CED has previously supported Vêtements SP with the aim of helping the company increase its production capacity and enabling it to adopt more efficient and environmentally friendly technologies.

An impressive demonstration of local manufacturing and sporting excellence!

The third-largest producer of frozen sweet potato fries in North America is based in Quebec!

On this International Day of Potato, we’re spotlighting our client Maison Russet, a company in the Montérégie region founded in 2007.

From the very beginning, the company’s mission has been to produce sweet potato fries of exceptional quality.

Over the years, significant investments have enabled the company to modernize its facilities and develop specialized equipment to transform the famous sweet potatoes from North Carolina into products recognized for their quality and nutritional value.

Thanks to state-of-the-art facilities and a skilled team, Maison Russet now offers flexible solutions tailored to all market segments, including private label, retail, club, and industrial formats.

CED is proud to have helped the company grow by providing support in 2023. This support was aimed at increasing its production capacity, supporting its expansion into export markets, and modernizing its processes, all while reducing its carbon footprint.

Maison Russet thus embodies the dynamism and expertise of Quebec’s agri-food sector, contributing to a stronger, greener, and more resilient economy.

Over $20M to support Quebec’s aluminum sector

In an economic climate marked by tariff pressures, CED is here to provide concrete support for homegrown businesses.

Through the Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI), 27 organizations in the aluminum sector have received a total of over $20.2M in funding.

This support includes an investment in AluQuébec, la Grappe industrielle de l'aluminium du Québec to strengthen its key role as an industry catalyst and to provide businesses with specialized guidance and new growth opportunities.

These investments help to:

- strengthen Canada’s supply chains
- boost innovation
- better position Quebec’s know-how in sectors of the future such as infrastructure and defence

Together, we are helping to build a stronger, more competitive, more resilient economy.

Click on the link in the comments to learn more about this assistance.

The Canadian Grand Prix: A Long-Term Economic Driver for Quebec!

This weekend, the Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada is in full swing in the city.

Last year, CED confirmed its funding for the event via the Société du Parc Jean-Drapeau through 2035. This support underscores the strategic importance of this flagship event for our economy and Quebec’s international profile.

Each year, the Grand Prix acts as a driver of economic development. In 2023, it generated $67.4 million in economic impact and attracted more than 170,000 visitors, a significant portion of whom came from outside Quebec.

Beyond the numbers, this event aligns with CED’s priorities: it supports SMEs and local suppliers, stimulates tourism, and showcases Québec’s expertise on the international stage. Broadcast in over 150 countries, it offers an exceptional showcase for Montréal and Québec.

By supporting the Grand Prix, CED contributes to a stronger, more innovative, and sustainable economy, benefiting businesses and communities across all regions of Quebec.