Five things new Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette can do quickly to revitalize the economy
Montreal, April 15, 2026 – Soon to be sworn in, the new premier of Quebec, Christine Fréchette, will have an opportunity to help grow the provincial economy and help Quebecers deal with the high cost of living. The MEI has noted five key priorities that Ms. Fréchette could adopt quickly.
- End government interventionism
The easiest and quickest action to be taken is to stop squandering billions of dollars on corporate subsidies. “I am for a less interventionist state. Let market forces do their work,” Ms. Fréchette said in an interview in March. That’s why the MEI expects to see rapid changes in this regard.
Last June, the MEI estimated that by abolishing subsidies and replacing them with a general tax cut for businesses, Quebec could lower its corporate tax rate by 6.75 percentage points.
This would give the province the most attractive corporate tax rate in North America.
“Ms. Fréchette has to send a clear signal on this point and make a clean break with her predecessors,” says Renaud Brossard, vice president of communications at the MEI. “Quebecers are fed up with seeing their money evaporate in subsidized failures like Northvolt, McInnis Cement, and Nemaska Lithium, among others.”
- Reduce gas taxes
Yesterday, Ms. Fréchette indicated that she had asked the finance minister to propose a plan to return extra government revenue from the rising cost of gasoline due to the war in the Middle East.
Since the start of the war, the MEI estimates that revenues from the QST on gasoline sales have grown by around $35.5 million as a result of increased gas prices at the pump.
Even beyond the geopolitical context, gas taxes weigh heavily on Quebecers, who pay up to six different taxes when they fill up the tank.
“Quebecers are still struggling to deal with the rapid increases in the cost of living seen over the past few years. By taking a little less out of their pockets when they fill their tanks, Ms. Fréchette could give families a helping hand,” says Mr. Brossard.
- Allow the development of Quebec’s natural gas
On March 16, the new premier had opened the door to the possibility of shale gas exploration and development. She said at the time that she thought it was something that had to be considered and analyzed.
The MEI applauds this opening, considering it essential to rescind the law that prohibits the development of our oil and gas resources, and recommending instead the implementation of an appropriate regulatory framework in order to benefit from these resources and make Quebec more prosperous.
- Abolish electric vehicle sales quotas
In February, Ms. Fréchette said that if she became the new premier of Quebec, the government would temporarily suspend the application of the EV regulation.
Once again, we need to stop adopting temporary measures based on the current context and face the fact that this measure should be permanent, and the target abandoned.
The data speak for themselves: In 2025, registrations of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles plummeted by 49.1 per cent in Quebec compared to 2024, according to Statistics Canada figures.
“Consumers’ appetite is far from corresponding to the targets imposed by the government. Ms. Fréchette says she wants to let market forces do their work; well, that should apply to electric vehicles too. Abolishing EV sales quotas would be a concrete opportunity to walk the walk,” concludes Mr. Brossard.
- Authorize the Marinvest gas terminal project
The Marinvest project in Baie-Comeau represents a strategic opportunity that Quebec cannot afford to miss. With Europe actively seeking to diversify its natural gas supplies and global demand remaining high, Quebec enjoys a real geographic advantage in supplying this market.
The government must not repeat the errors of the past by letting a long and unpredictable assessment process discourage investors. Ms. Fréchette must make sure that Marinvest is treated like a priority project.
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The MEI is an independent public policy think tank with offices in Montreal, Ottawa, and Calgary. Through its publications, media appearances, and advisory services to policymakers, the MEI stimulates public policy debate and reforms based on sound economics and entrepreneurship.
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