NEWS FROM RIGHT HERE
September 3, 2026
2026 Provincial Election – Making District Central’s Voice Heard
On October 5, Quebecers will head to the polls for the 2026 provincial election. This important democratic process provides a valuable opportunity to highlight the issues that directly affect District Central businesses, workers and economic stakeholders.
1. SETTING THE CONTEXT
Against a backdrop of global economic uncertainty, tariff wars, supply chain pressures, rising operating costs, productivity challenges, labour shortages, and the accelerating pace of digital transformation and artificial intelligence, businesses in District Central face significant challenges to remaining competitive.
The provincial election campaign offers SDC District Central an important opportunity to bring the territory’s key issues and the priorities identified by the local business community to the attention of candidates, political parties, members and partners. contribute to the broader conversation on Quebec’s economic development and to reiterate the District Central's strategic role as a driver of innovation, productivity, and economic growth.
2. THE ISSUES AND REQUESTS OF THE SDC DISTRICT CENTRAL
As part of the election campaign, SDC District Central is calling on candidates to address four key issues that are critical to the development of the territory.
Issue 1 : Recognition of District Central as a Strategic Innovation and Productivity Hub
District Central is a unique economic hub in Quebec, where manufacturing, logistics, technology, creative, and processing companies coexist and innovate directly within their day-to-day operations. This diversity fosters a model of applied innovation rooted in production, collaboration, and market proximity. Although it contributes directly to Quebec's competitiveness, this mixed urban hub model receives little recognition in current government programmes. The SDC therefore hopes to see this reality better acknowledged, allowing support mechanisms to be tailored to the needs of major urban economic hubs.
Key Request by the SDC District Central:
Officially recognize District Central as a strategic hub for economic, manufacturing, logistics and technological innovation, and adapt government support mechanisms to better support major mixed-use urban economic ecosystems.
Issue 2 : Mobility, Accessibility and the Impact of Major Construction Projects
District Central is one of northern Montreal’s major employment and economic hubs, generating significant daily movement of workers and goods. However, road congestion, construction-related disruptions, and ongoing and upcoming work on key transportation corridors, particularly the Metropolitan Expressway (A-40), are making travel more difficult and creating uncertainty for businesses.
Despite its proximity to several public transit facilities, the territory also remains insufficiently connected to major transit networks. In this context, mobility and accessibility are essential conditions for supporting District Central’s competitiveness, attractiveness and economic development.
Key Request by the SDC District Central:
Develop a coordinated strategy and long-term plan to sustainably improve mobility and accessibility in District Central, while minimizing the economic impacts of major construction projects on businesses and workers in the territory.
Issue 3 : Support for Urban Manufacturing and Economic Development
District Central remains one of Montreal’s leading urban manufacturing hubs and plays a strategic role in Quebec’s economy. The territory is home to a high concentration of businesses operating in areas such as processing, production, distribution, logistics and local supply chains. These businesses play an essential role in local production, proximity-based supply and job creation.
Against a backdrop of economic challenges, business modernization, international competition and growing pressure on industrial space, maintaining a strong manufacturing and logistics presence within an urban environment nevertheless represents a strategic priority for Montreal’s and Quebec’s economies.
Key Request by the SDC District Central:
Actively support the modernization, competitiveness and continued operation of strategic manufacturing and logistics activities in urban areas.
Issue 4 : Workforce, Economic Immigration and Competitiveness
District Central is home to more than 2,100 businesses operating in key sectors of Quebec’s economy, including manufacturing, retail, design, fashion, logistics and professional services. The territory continues to face persistent challenges in recruiting and retaining workers, particularly for technical and specialized positions. Businesses also rely on workers from economic immigration to support their growth and maintain their operations.
In this context, access to a skilled workforce, along with stable and predictable workforce and immigration policies, are essential to District Central’s competitiveness and economic development.
Key Request by the SDC District Central:
Ensure stable, predictable workforce and economic immigration policies aligned with strategic sectors, while helping retain and employ workers already established in the territory.
3. COMMITMENTS BY THE PARTIES
To take the discussion further, the SDC also sent the candidates the same questionnaire, focusing specifically on the business community’s four priorities. Their responses are made available in full, allowing members to review them and compare their positions.
Read the candidates’ responses:
- André A. Morin (Parti libéral du Québec) : View the responses >>
- Amine Difallah (Parti conservateur du Québec) : View the responses >>
- Pierrick Jasmin (Parti Québécois) : View the responses >>
4. ELECTORAL MEETINGS AND CANDIDATE FORUMS IN DISTRICT CENTRAL
Meeting with Pierrick Jasmin, Parti Québécois - September 15
From left to right: Pierrick Jasmin (Parti Québécois candidate), Dany St-Jean, (Public Affairs Consultant for the SDC), Geneviève Dufour (Associate Executive Director, SDC) and Hélène Veilleux (Executive Director, SDC)
Meeting with André Albert Morin, Québec Liberal Party – September 16
From left to right: André Albert Morin (Québec Liberal Party candidate), Geneviève Dufour (Associate Executive Director, SDC), Dany St-Jean on screen (Public Affairs Consultant for the SDC), and Hélène Veilleux (Executive Director, SDC)
Meeting with Marie-Laure Nault, Québec Solidaire - September 18
From left to right: Marie-Laure Nault (Québec Solidaire candidate), Hélène Veilleux (Executive Director, SDC), Dany St-Jean on screen (Public Affairs Consultant for the SDC), and Geneviève Dufour (Associate Executive Director, SDC)
Meeting with Amine Difallah, Conservative Party of Québec - September 21
From left to right: Campaign Director for Mr. Difallah, Amine Difallah (Candidate for the Conservative Party of Québec), Hélène Veilleux (Executive Director, SDC), Dany St-Jean on screen (Public Affairs Consultant for the SDC), and Geneviève Dufour (Associate Executive Director, SDC)
Election Forum at the BGA
In addition to the individual meetings, candidates from the Quebec Liberal Party, the Parti Québécois and Québec solidaire took part in the forum hosted by the SDC during its Budget General Assembly of September 23, giving members in attendance an opportunity to hear directly about their perspectives on the issues affecting the District Central.
From left to right: Eugénie Lévis (SDC District Central administrator), Delia De Gasperis (SDC administrator), Hélène Veilleux (SDC), Pierrick Jasmin (Parti Québécois candidate), Marie-Laure Nault (Québec solidaire candidate), André Albert Morin (incumbent MNA and Quebec Liberal Party candidate), Howard Szalavetz (SDC administrator), Gabriel Tupula (Chair of the SDC Board), Laetitia Bedout (SDC Secretary-Treasurer), and Carolyn Kelly Dorais (SDC administrator).
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