The Réseau des ingénieurs du Québec is responding favourably to certain measures announced in the provincial budget presented on March 13, 2008 by Finance Minister Monique Jérôme-Forget. Several of these measures address certain concerns raised in our most recent studies, particularly with regard to corporate investment and productivity, workforce training and sustainable development.

The Réseau is pleased with the proposed elimination of capital taxes as a way of stimulating productivity in the manufacturing sector. In addition, the introduction of a new 5% tax credit for the purchase of building and processing materials - a credit that could be stretched to as much as 40% in remote regions - will allow businesses to increase their investments and their productivity.

The Réseau also welcomes the budget's proposed investments in education, professional development and immigrant worker integration. These measures are also in line with demands that we have made in the past. Budget allocations include $250 million over 5 years for universities and $196 million for employee training, which should help eliminate certain obstacles to immigrant employability.

Furthermore, the Réseau congratulates the Quebec Government's decision to maintain its sustainable development priorities by supporting the eco-technology sector with $12 million in funding over four years. This is precisely what we recommended in our latest study on the industrial sector, which called for increased support for companies striving to develop and implement technologies and innovations based on the principles of sustainable development and minimal environmental footprints.

The Réseau believes that these various measures are a step in the right direction. For more information about the budget, please visit the Ministère des Finances du Québec Web site.