The accuracy with which vegetation is represented in Land Surface Models (LSMs) remains a key consideration because vegetation absorbs carbon from the atmosphere and releases water vapor back into it. This plays a critical role in better understanding surface energy and water balances. Depending on how vegetation is represented, LSMs are divided into several generations. The Canadian Land Surface Scheme (CLASS) is a second-generation model, as it represents the role of vegetation using physical variables, while the Canadian Land Surface Scheme Including biogeochemical Cycle (CLASSIC) is a third-generation model, as it incorporates the carbon cycle and a dynamic vegetation model. Thus, in theory, the outputs of CLASSIC should more closely reflect real-world conditions. While CLASS has been widely used to provide surface fluxes for various climate simulations, CLASSIC is scheduled to be implemented within the Canadian Regional Climate Model (CRCM). The objective of this study is to assess the performance of CLASSIC by focusing on the surface energy and water balances across the province of Québec. To achieve this, we compare CLASSIC and CLASS simulations with available observations. We begin by performing offline in situ simulations at selected boreal forest sites for verification. We then extend the analysis over the province of Québec using primarily CMCR5 simulations produced at Ouranos. CLASSIC is expected to perform better, particularly in regions with higher surface heterogeneity, thereby providing valuable information for water resources in Québec.