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Open in full screen mode Quebec Finance Minister Eric Girard (Archive photo) Feature ;try Log inCreate my account Speech synthesis, based on artificial intelligence, makes it possible to generate spoken text from written text. Negotiations of collective agreements, management of public funds at the City of Montreal, subsidy to attract the Los Angeles Kings to Quebec, increase in the salaries of deputies… At a time when taxpayers must tighten their belts, the expenses of the various levels of government attract attention. Three opposition finance spokespersons debated this subject on the program Facts First. A representative of the CAQ declined Radio-Canada's invitation. On November 7, the Minister of Finance, Eric Girard, announced a difficult end to the financial year during his economic update, but for Monsef Derraji (MP from the Liberal Party), Pascal Paradis (MP from the Parti Québécois) and Haroun Bouazzi (MP for Québec Solidaire), the Quebec government has instead made, in recent years, bad budgetary, financial and tax decisions to get to this point. Liberal MP Monsef Derraji, for example, criticized the government's idea of giving $500 to all Quebecers who had a net annual income of less than $100,000 in 2022. The government says today that the coffers state funds are empty and the remaining provisions are $500 million, but it is this government that squandered public funds, said Mr. Derraji, who added that the CAQ had inherited #x27;a $7 billion surplus from the previous government. There had chaotic management of public finances by the CAQ. A quote from Monsef Derraji, member of the Liberal Party of Quebec
MP Monsef Derraji, of the Liberal Party of Quebec (Archive photo)
The increase in salaries of deputies of the National Assembly, adopted in June 2023, was also criticized by Haroun Bouazzi. To increase by 30% over one year, while [presently, the unions] are proposing an increase of 9 to 11% for civil servants over five years […], it is unacceptable, argued the solidarity MP in alluding to the union demands of the Common Front.
At a time when funding for the tramway project in Quebec and the province's 10 transport companies is under threat, the government does not hesitate to inject billions of dollars when it needs to. acts of multinationals, for his part deplored the PQ MP for Jean-Talon, Pascal Paradis.
It's a question of priorities. When it's multinationals, it's a waltz of billions, he said, giving the example of the subsidies granted to the Swedish company Northvolt so that it could become independent. ;installed in Quebec.
When it comes to the most vulnerable, food banks or community organizations, it is difficult to get the ear of this government.
A quote from Pascal Paradis, member of the Parti Québécois
Giving billions to private companies is a choice. And I'm talking about large multinational companies, not SMEs, he clarified.
MP Pascal Paradis, of the Parti Québécois (Archive photo)
Mr. Paradis also mentioned in passing the controversial government subsidy of 5 to 7 million for the arrival of the Los Angeles Kings in Quebec, which he described as reckless management.
As for the solidarity MP, he criticized the CAQ's decision to lower taxes, which he described as unfair and an amput[ation of] our wealth of $1.7 billion. The bottom 30 percent don't benefit because they are too poor to pay taxes, he said.
Mr. Bouazzi also wanted to highlight the laxity regarding tax havens, both by the provincial government and the federal government.
He notably cited the report (New window) published at the beginning of November by the Institute for Socioeconomic Research and Information (IRIS) which reveals that in 10 years, 59 Canadian companies, of which 33 have had their headquarters in Quebec, transferred $119.8 billion in net profits to Luxembourg.
There is complacency regarding this money [which ends up in tax havens]. These companies all receive public money. If they do not pay their fair share, it impoverishes Quebecers.
A quote from Haroun Bouazzi, MP for Québec solidaire
Mr. Bouazzi also criticized the property tax – the main income of municipalities – which he considers a tax on capital. This is an incredibly unfair tax. It weighs on the middle classes, he lamented.
MP Haroun Bouazzi, from Québec solidaire (Archive photo)
Pascal Paradis agreed with this, adding that the financing of municipalities involves a problem broader structural.
The problem is that the responsibilities of municipalities are increasing, particularly in terms of the fight against climate change, therefore their income is not adequate, thinks the PQ MP.
He however wanted to welcome the fiscal pact concluded at the beginning of the month, which promises the commitment of the government to include in law the sharing, with municipalities, of an annual amount equivalent to the growth in revenue generated by one QST point.
- Myriam Boulianne (View profile)Myriam BoulianneFollow