Overview of Quebec’s Resource Regions for 2020–2021

Like the province, economic growth in Quebec’s resource regions will be negative in 2020 due to the health and economic crisis. As shown in graph 1, this cluster of regions will evolve at two different speeds. The economies of Bas-Saint-Laurent, Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean and Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine are expected to post the largest declines in their respective nominal GDPs this year, as some of their flagship industries, including forestry, agriculture and aluminum, will remain under pressure. In contrast, the mining regions, i.e., Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Côte-Nord and Nord-du-Québec, will post some of the smallest declines. The solid mining industry supports this outlook.