The Government of Québec opens a new office to improve its South Florida connection
Canada is one of Florida’s leading trade partners – its second-largest export market and its third-largest source of imports –with a combined annual trade volume exceeding $11 billion. In South Florida, that connection is even more poignant, with some 150,000 Canadians living in the area year-round, and many more thousands making an annual pilgrimage during the winter months.
These visitors are not generic Canadians, however, but mostly French speakers from the province of Québec, which has long enjoyed a special relationship with South Florida’s Broward County. Any visitor to the “Broadwalk” along Broward’s Hollywood beach cannot avoid the omnipresence of the French language or the outlets selling poutines in what has become known as Little Québec.
QUÉBEC’S PRESENCE IN SOUTH FLORIDA
Now, Québec has officially expanded its presence in South Florida with the opening of a new office in Miami last year, marking a significant step in its six-decade-long relationship with the area. With eight staff members, this is Québec’s ninth U.S. location and part of a global network of 36 offices in 20 countries.
Unlike other international offices in Miami that see the city as a bridge to Latin America, Québec’s mission here is sharply focused on Florida and the United States. “We do business with the United States and Québec. There’s no link with Latin America through this office,” explained Martine Biron, Québec’s minister of international relations. This deliberate separation emphasizes Québec’s intent to forge direct partnerships with Florida industries and policymakers.
Martine came to Miami in December to attend the World Strategic Forum and officially inaugurate the new office, and to emphasize the importance of the Québec-Florida relationship. Québec alone has an annual trade volume of $3 billion with Florida, driven by industries like aerospace, aluminum, and tourism. Aerospace remains a cornerstone, with Québec being the third-largest aerospace hub in the world and contributing nearly 30% of the global supply of air and space navigation products. “Whatever plane you see flying here, there’s a piece of Québec in it,” said Biron. Bombardier and CAE, two Québec giants, collectively employ 1,000 Floridians. Bombardier alone has invested $100 million in Miami, creating an aviation repair and maintenance facility at Opa-locka airport.
Aluminum is another vital trade product, with more than 90% of Québec’s aluminum exports bound for the United States. Florida ranks fourth and fifth in steel and aluminum imports from Québec, respectively.
Tourism and real estate play significant roles in this economic relationship, with approximately 250,000 Québec “snowbirds” escaping the harsh Canadian winters to visit Florida each year. The flow goes both ways, with Floridians seeking Québec’s cooler summers and vibrant winter carnivals. “Florida is the state that’s closest to Québec,” Martine observed, highlighting the unique synergy between the two.
All told, between 1.2 and 1.5 million Québec tourists visit Florida each year, contributing over $2.5 billion to the economy—a figure expected to rise to $3 billion by 2025. Meanwhile, Québecers have invested over $9 billion in Florida real estate since 2000, predominantly in the south of the state.
Québec’s decision to expand in Miami comes at a pivotal moment, with Florida’s rising influence in U.S. politics. “There’s something important going on in Florida at this moment,” Biron said with a nod to President Trump’s Florida Whitehouse in nearby Palm Beach County. The state’s growing clout presents an opportunity for Québec to strengthen ties and explore new collaborations.
The move also reflects Québec’s approach to diplomacy, which is built on two pillars: economic opportunity and cultural identity. By choosing Miami, Québec is doubling down on a relationship rooted in decades of trust. “There’s no better way to do business than to be there on location,” said Martine.
