North Hatley, Wednesday, January 21, 2026 – The Honourable Rechie Valdez, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism), visited the Eastern Townships, a strategic tourism region in Quebec, at the invitation of her federal colleagues from the area, Members of Parliament Marianne Dandurand, Louis Villeneuve, and Élisabeth Brière.
A Tour Focused on Regional Tourism
The Minister and Members of Parliament met with representatives from regional tourism associations and tourist attractions to discuss the main challenges and opportunities facing the industry.
Discussions focused in particular on labour shortages, the impacts of climate change, challenges related to the lack of public transportation, as well as the importance of relations with the United States and the diversification of tourist markets.
The Minister also took the opportunity to highlight the key objectives of the new Federal Tourism Growth Strategy, Canada 365, launched in February 2025. This strategy aims specifically to invest in tourism assets, support four-season outdoor tourism, and attract more international events. The strategy will help strengthen the workforce, ensure the sector’s long-term sustainability, and enable regions to benefit more fully from economic spin-offs.
During the visit, Minister Valdez and the region’s Members of Parliament travelled to Bromont, montagne d’expériences, a key player in four-season tourism in the Eastern Townships. They emphasized the driving role of ski resorts in the region’s attractiveness for both Quebec and international visitors, in a context of increased competition and adaptation to climate change. The delegation also visited La Fromagerie La Station, recognizing the importance of agri-tourism in the region, as well as Manoir Hovey, a signature accommodation of the Eastern Townships.
Combating Violence Against Women in the Regions
In the afternoon, elected officials met with women’s organizations, shelters, and Agricultrices du Québec to discuss the realities faced by women in rural regions, including gender-based violence and support for women in agriculture. Minister Valdez reiterated the importance of coordinated action to combat violence against women and highlighted that the 2025 federal budget allocates $223.4 million over five years to strengthen federal action in this area.
Quotes
“I am delighted to discover the Eastern Townships and to meet the people who bring tourism to life in the region. Their commitment and creativity are major assets to the local economy and vitality. The federal government is determined to ensure that regional tourism businesses have the tools they need to adapt, grow, and attract visitors year-round.”
— Rechie Valdez, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism)“Having built my own career in the tourism sector, I know how different the realities of the regions are compared to major urban centres. The Eastern Townships offer exceptional attractions, but they also face very real on-the-ground challenges. It was important to me to allow the Minister to see this reality firsthand and to engage directly with the people who sustain regional tourism.”
— Marianne Dandurand, Member of Parliament for Compton–Stanstead“The Eastern Townships are a vital part of Quebec’s tourism landscape and attract local visitors as well as a large number of international tourists each year. Every season, the region comes alive with a wide range of activities for the general public. Tourism is a key sector for our regional economy, ranking among the largest employers with approximately 18,000 jobs and 1,400 businesses, in addition to the significant economic benefits it generates. I am grateful that the Minister was able to see for herself the dynamism and beauty of our region, which I continuously promote in Ottawa.”
— The Honourable Élisabeth Brière, Deputy Government Whip and Member of Parliament for Sherbrooke“Tourism truly drives the Eastern Townships, with more than $900 million in economic spin-offs each year. In a region that is home to four of Quebec’s most important ski resorts, it is essential that the federal government understand the concrete challenges faced by our businesses, particularly in adapting to climate change, in order to support strong, four-season tourism. Our discussions with women’s organizations also remind us that gender-based violence is on the rise and that it is a priority we must tackle together, everywhere in Quebec, including in regional areas.”
— Louis Villeneuve, Member of Parliament for Brome–Missisquoi
