As a member, your
voice joins those of the hundreds of
others that we represent. Together, we
proclaim the challenges facing you and
the IT industry so as to influence
governments and decision makers, thanks
to our strong voice.
The Quebec Technology Association also
works with other organizations across
Canada and the United States to pool our
strengths and publicize the needs of the
IT industry as a whole.
AQT belongs to the canadian ICT
federation, run by ITAC.
It thus regularly communicates with its
counterparts in the rest of Canada.
Although we are not a lobby group, we
promote and raise awareness about the
forces and challenges that affect your
business: for example, in terms of
access to specialized marketing
resources, access to government programs
that meet your needs, an environment
that is conducive to research and
development, access to financing, etc.
The government also comes to you!
When we do not go to the government, we
bring it to you, including decision
makers at the highest levels.
How to sell to governments?
What are the different government
departments’ expectations and needs?
How do you position yourself, through
partners or directly?
As soon as a situation affects the ICT
industry, we tackle it!
June 2010
Presented in response to the
Digital Economy Strategy
Consultations of Canada, the AQT
surveyed their technology
members through an electronic
survey from June 21st to June
25th 2010. Recommendations were
issued based on the respondent’s
opinions and represents 95% of
them.
See the Quebec Association of
Technologies’
4 recommendations. (french
version)
March 2008
The Quebec government responds
favourably to the recommendations in the
Gagné report, which suggests instituting
tax assistance to encourage
high-value-added activities.
To strengthen Quebec’s position in the
ICT sector, the Quebec government is
setting up a new temporary credit, with
a rate of 30%, which can total up
to $20,000 a year. It is for
businesses with at least six eligible
employees; it is slated to terminate
on December 31, 2015.
This measure replaces the assistance
provided through designated sites (Cité
du multimédia, Cité du commerce
électronique, CNE).
The Quebec Technology Association is
keeping a close watch on business
eligibility, focuses on innovation as
well as eligible operations.
Winter 2008
It is time to think about Quebec’s
economic environment, and the place of
SMEs. AQT sums up the key news:
Public contracts: A role for SMEs
On February 26, 2008, before an audience
of more than 300, including 200
government buyers assembled to
participate in the 3rd edition of the
ICT trade fair, organized by the MDEIE
in conjunction with the Quebec
Technology Association, Minister Raymond
Bachand shared his thoughts on the ICT
industry, stating his desire and
commitment to find ways to, as far as
possible, use public contracts as a
lever for developing our innovative SMEs.
Federal procurement process
The Minister noted that it was the
importance placed on SMEs, which
generate innovation, that was behind the
creation of the
Office of Small and Medium Enterprises.
Reaction to the Gagné report on the
purpose of the tax measures
"At the Quebec Technology
Association, we congratulate the Group
on its work, understanding of the issues
and spinoffs to sectors covered by the
purpose of the tax measures, as well as
the report’s clarity." However, we
wonder about the importance that has
been given to marketing innovations.
There is now no doubt that our
industry’s success will be measured in
terms of its ability to grow in markets,
especially internationally.” Read
the interview with Nicole Martel at
Lien Multimédia.
Towards a new economic space for
Quebec
On March 3, before several hundred
partners, Premier Jean Charest set out
the government's action plan to create a
new economic space for Quebec. AQT was
there.
Read the press release
October 2007
Réseau inter logiQ represents the ICT industy
to two tiers of government.
Read the press release
September 2007 Réseau inter logiQ co-signed a brief
tabled by TechnoMontréal on the Quebec
government’s tax assistance. It
specifically addressed the issue of the
end of tax credits for designated sites.
In the last decade, the ICT sector has
grown constantly. Government levers are
part of the equation in maintaining this
growth. The recommendations in the brief
encourage the provincial government to
maintain the principle of tax
assistance, but suggest that it not be
tied to designated sites.
A strong recommendation was made to
redefine Quebec’s economic development
strategy, putting the emphasis on
innovation and, in particular, on
marketing new technologies. It is also
important to invest in education and
training to ensure the succession in
this sector.
Further information
Action and Communications
ICT’s powerhouse!
At CEO Vision, Luc Filiatreault, Chair
of the Quebec Association of
Technology’s Board of Directors, spoke
to the crowd, saying that AQT will be
the ICT industry’s powerhouse. Responses
were many, and highly favourable. The
industry has reached a stage at which it
must engage in ongoing marketing. To do
so, the network plans to engage in a
government advocacy campaign in order to
set up incentives and programs for
marketing ICT. At members’ initiative, a
special fund, dedicated exclusively to
advocacy, was created. Concrete action
has been undertaken. AQT needs you to
forge ahead!
Contact us if you'd like to be one
of the leaders, and get more information.
March 2007 "Pre-budget"
Letter to the Honourable Him Flaherty,
and his federal counterparts.
Read...
Décember 2006 Letter from the
Chair to members
Read...
December 2006 Letter -
"Mobilizing Canadian ICT associations"
Réseau inter logiQ, in conjunction with
counterparts across Canada, communicated
with Finance Minister Jim Flaherty to
inform him regarding the challenges
facing ICT SMEs, asking him to revise
his strategies to make Canadian IT firms
more competitive. Items raised include:
Enhancing R&D credits to enable
investments in marketing, support SMEs
that invest in ICT to improve
productivity, and deal with the shortage
of human resources: Institute a strategy
to encourage young people to choose
careers in computing, to encourage
adequate financing: Revise tax law to
allow foreign investors to invest
through AIM/LSE.
Read the letter...
October 2006 Interview – Our
policies and programs must take into
account the challenges to IT firm
growth. "Marketing phases do not receive
adequate support." Recently interviewed
by Journal Réseaux, Nicole Martel,
president and CEO of Réseau inter logiQ
notes that there is a crying need for
support for marketing. “Without
appropriate financial support, many
innovative SMEs will not be able to keep
up with international competition, even
though their products are often very
high quality.”
Read the article
September 2006 Meeting with Ms.
Marie-Lucie Morin, Deputy Minister,
Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Canada (DFAIT). Federal government
export policies and programs. The AQT
profiled IT firms and delineated their
needs for export services.
September 2006 Meeting with Mr.
Denis Thériault, director, Direction des
Technologies de l’Information et des
Communications, MDEIE. Meeting to
discuss the Quebec government’s strategy
and Roadmap for action and support for
SMEs.
