Charles Milliard of the Parti libéral announced on Friday that the party will undertake a review of Quebec’s public procurement system with the aim of expanding opportunities for the province’s small and medium‑size enterprises. The pledge comes as the provincial government continues to award thousands of public contracts each year, a market that many local businesses have found difficult to penetrate.
The Liberal Party’s proposal calls for a comprehensive assessment of the existing procurement framework, focusing on the criteria and procedures that determine eligibility for government contracts. By simplifying application processes and reducing administrative hurdles, the party says it intends to make the system more inclusive for Quebec‑based SMEs. The reforms are presented as a means to boost the participation of local firms in public‑sector projects, thereby supporting the provincial economy.
According to the party’s statement, the initiative will involve consultation with business groups and a transparency review to ensure that contract awards are accessible and fair. While specific changes have not yet been detailed, the Liberal Party emphasizes that the review will identify barriers that currently limit SME involvement and propose adjustments to address them.
The move arrives amid ongoing discussions about the distribution of public spending across the province. By targeting the procurement process, the party hopes to channel a larger share of the thousands of annual contracts toward smaller, locally owned companies. The announcement underscores the Liberal Party’s broader economic strategy, which prioritizes the growth of Quebec’s domestic business sector.
No timeline has been provided for the completion of the review, and the party has not outlined the exact mechanisms for implementing the proposed reforms. Nonetheless, the commitment signals a policy focus on enhancing the role of SMEs in government contracting, a sector that traditionally has been dominated by larger firms.
The Liberal Party’s initiative will be monitored by industry stakeholders as the province prepares for the next round of public contract allocations later this year.