A Strategic Financial Destination

Choosing Québec to support your company’s growth offers a wide range of advantages. Businesses that set up shop here benefit from competitive operating costs, attractive financial incentives and favourable tax measures. 

Competitive  Operating Costs

Privileged Access to Major Global Markets

As a strategic gateway to North America, Québec enables businesses established in the province to benefit from the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), which provides direct, duty-free access to a North American market of more than 450 million consumers. 

Canada is also the only country with free trade agreements covering every G7 nation, notably through the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with the European Union and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). 

Overall, companies operating in Québec benefit from preferential access to 1.5 billion consumers across more than 50 countries, helping them reduce trade costs and strengthen supply chains to support international growth.

Réunion de travail

Competitive Commercial and Office Leasing Costs

Québec stands out for its highly competitive commercial and office leasing costs, both in major urban centres and across regional markets. According to comparisons conducted in the second quarter of 2025, the average gross rent for Class A office space in Montréal was US$13/sq. ft., lower than in several major North American cities, including Toronto (US$15/sq. ft.), Boston (US$15/sq. ft.) and New York (US$29/sq. ft.). 

Industrial real estate also offers a strong cost advantage, with average gross industrial rents at US$31/sq. ft. in Montréal, compared with US$40/sq. ft. in Toronto and US$71/sq. ft. in San Francisco. These cost differences help businesses reduce occupancy expenses and free up resources to support growth, within a real estate market offering a wide variety of solutions tailored to their needs.

Source: Cushman & Wakefield, "Q2 2025 Canada Office Marketbeat Report”, 2025, “Q2 2025 U.S. Office Marketbeat Report”, 2025, “Q2 2025

Femme tenant une tablette électronique dans un entrepôt

Renewable, Reliable, Low-Cost Electricity

Thanks to its predominantly renewable electricity supply, Québec offers some of the lowest and most stable electricity rates in North America for large industrial consumers. 

Hydro-Québec’s rates are standardized across the main power grid and can be up to 50% lower—and in some cases lower still—than rates in several major Canadian and U.S. cities, depending on the markets compared.

 Source: Hydro-Québec, Comparaison des prix de l’électricité dans les grandes villes nord-américaines 2025

Employés devant un pylone électrique

An Affordable Workforce

North American comparisons show that salaries in Québec for a number of key occupations in engineering, technology, advanced manufacturing and skilled trades are lower than those in many U.S. states and remain competitive compared with other major Canadian provinces. 

Combined with a highly educated and productive workforce, this salary advantage enables companies to lower operating costs while gaining access to talent capable of driving innovation, growth and long-term performance.

Deux collègues travaillant à ordinateur portable dans un entrepôt

Attractive Financial Incentives 

Government support can significantly reduce operating costs and help you set up operations in Québec.

  • Key Projects and Investment

    • Tax holidays for major projects focused on job creation and increasing production capacity
    Deux personnes en discussion descendant des escaliers à l'extérieur

  • Support for Innovation

    • Refundable tax credits to support the purchase of equipment and technology assets aimed at improving productivity and innovation, or to reduce R&D costs
    • Incentive deductions to encourage the commercialization and monetization of innovations developed in Québec
    • Financing to support productivity initiatives or facilitate setting up shop in Québec
    Deux employés en technologie

  • Sector-Specific Incentives

    • Tax credits, financial assistance and tax measures tailored to strategic sectors such as technology, multimedia, finance, aerospace and life sciences.
    Jeune femme regardant dans un microscope

  • Talent Attraction and Development

    • Measures to encourage workforce skills development
    • Training and talent integration support programs
    • Economic immigration pathways for specialized talent
    Deux femmes professionnelles en discussion

  • Commercialization and Export

    • Programs supporting commercialization and export activities, including support for international subsidiaries established in Québec as part of their North American or global growth strategy
    Photo aérienne du port de Montréal

  • Energy Transition

    • Tax credits for investing in clean technologies
    • Programs supporting innovation in energy efficiency and decarbonization
    • Reduced electricity rates
    Deux personnes discutent ensemble à l’extérieur d’un immeuble moderne en consultant une tablette.

A Favourable Tax Environment

Québec stands out for its low tax burden on new investments and for having one of the lowest corporate tax rates in North America for both manufacturing and non-manufacturing activities. Thanks to this favourable tax framework, international companies can significantly reduce their operating costs.

To better understand the specifics of Québec’s tax system and learn about the main measures available to companies operating in the province, please see our information brochure Taxation in Québec: Favourable Mesures to Foster Investment.

Collègues discutant dans une salle de conférence

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Our experts can provide recommendations tailored to the specific requirements of your project. They can also compare different regions and assist you in preparing your business case. 

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