18. The Société may also, in particular,(1) define the needs for manpower development in the light of labour and employment market realities in Québec;
(2) define the orientations it intends to pursue with the participation of members of regional boards from among those appointed by the Minister pursuant to section 36;
(3) foster concerted action between management, unions and other social partners, and the establishment of enterprise-based manpower committees, sector-based manpower committees or other committees on which management, unions or the other social partners are represented;
(4) foster the participation of public educational institutions, institutions governed by the Act respecting private education (chapter E-9.1) and university-level educational institutions in manpower development activities;
(5) promote the development of various initiatives in the manpower field;
(6) engage in the promotion of its programs;
(7) carry out research, surveys or inquiries;
(8) advise the Minister of Manpower, Income Security and Vocational Training on policies relating to manpower and employment and propose means of implementing such policies;
(9) foster, within the scope of government policies, equity in the labour market for underprivileged persons or groups.