Last Friday, the city of Ancienne-Lorette confirmed the sale of a piece of land to Microsoft. According to the municipality, this transaction, which was finalized on May 26, will contribute to the “city’s economic and social growth.” It’s part of Microsoft’s growth strategy in the province and responds to an increased demand for cloud services. “Following a decision by city council on January 12, 2021 to allow the land to be sold to a third party, talks continued and resulted in this transaction. We are delighted that Microsoft has chosen L’Ancienne-Lorette to continue its expansion in Quebec. The spin-offs will be very positive and we will work with the multinational’s management to make the establishment a success.” —Gaétan Pageau, Mayor. A major player in the computer industry, Microsoft already has offices at Place de la Cité on Laurier Boulevard. Its expansion to Ancienne-Lorette resulted from collaboration with the economic development agency Québec International.
Our point of view
The fact that a multinational corporation as well known as Microsoft has decided to expand in our city is a major nod to our skilled workforce. On the other hand, overfishing in our limited talent pool is a major issue for all tech companies. Other than these logistical issues, we’ve still been given the proof that Quebec is a digital hotspot in North America. That was already the case with hydroelectricity, but now, the introduction of specific training programs, such as Québec 42, also ensures an efficient next generation of professionals in the leading-edge digital sector, where demand far exceeds supply.
