The Quebec government is attempting to limit its business with American companies by imposing a 25 per cent price increase on all calls for tender for government contracts.
Economy Minister Christine Fréchette made the announcement Monday morning on Radio-Canada’s radio show, Tout un matin.
“We are going to introduce, nothing more, nothing less, the equivalent of a 25 per cent rate on these submissions,” Fréchette said.
Under this new levy, “there is practically no chance for these companies to qualify,” she said.
The move is part of a broader attempt by the province to respond to the United States’ 25 per cent tariffs set to go into effect Tuesday.
In Ontario, Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford announced he would rip up Ontario’s nearly $100 million contract with Elon Musk’s Starlink.
The contract, signed in November, was meant to provide high-speed internet access through Starlink’s satellite service to 15,000 eligible homes and businesses in rural, remote and northern communities by June of this year.
‘We’re going to protect ourselves,’ Legault says
In response to Trump’s tariffs, Canada will impose 25 per cent tariffs on $155 billion worth of American goods.
Premier François Legault said he and other premiers unanimously support these retaliatory measures, adding that Canada’s counter-tariffs would “benefit our companies by 25 per cent.”
“We’re going to protect ourselves and we’re going to fight Mr. Trump,” he said.
More than 100,000 jobs will be lost in the province due to the tariffs, according to the premier.
“We have to stand up, we have to fight to protect our economy, to protect our jobs,” he told reporters Saturday night.
The province has also asked the province’s liquor board, the Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ), to remove all American products from its shelves starting Tuesday.
Legault is set to hold a news conference later Monday.
With 25 per cent tariffs slated to take effect on Feb. 4, 2025, some people are opting for local goods instead of American ones.
Leave a Reply