(Magog) François Legault announces that he will again promise to put money back in the pockets of Quebecers during the next election campaign.
Posted at 5:33 p.m.
Passing through for an announcement on sports infrastructure in Magog, in the Eastern Townships, on Friday, the Prime Minister was challenged on the inflationary surge and more particularly the soaring price of gasoline, which had exceeded $2.00 a day. liter earlier in the day.
The Prime Minister first repeated once again that he has no intention of touching gas taxes, a measure that he considers unfair and bad for the environment. Then he recalled that his government had successively given sums of $200 to people with an income of less than $50,000, $400 to people aged 70 and over, then $500 to all people with an income less than $100,000 per year.
“Portfolio Champion”
“And I announce to you that there is an election campaign coming up and the CAQ has always been the champion of the portfolio. We were the only ones in 2018 to promise money, “he said, recalling that during his first term, his government had improved family allowances and reduced school taxes, the price of parking in hospitals and reduced a single rate in the CPEs.
“We have delivered the goods and there, in terms of the rest of things, there are a few months left, but there will obviously be electoral platforms and I think that we must continue to put money back in the wallets of the Quebecers because inflation is indeed high, very high, exceptionally high. […] In addition, with what is happening in Ukraine, there is an impact on gas prices, so we will continue to support Quebeckers and put money in Quebeckers’ wallets. »
Asked immediately afterwards about the labor shortage, the Prime Minister took the opportunity to rub his hands at the fall in the unemployment rate. “We are victims of our success. I don’t remember seeing that, such a big gap. The figures were released this morning for the month of April 2022. Quebec is at 3.9% unemployment, Canada is at 5.2% and Ontario is at 5.4%. »
Wages… which will fuel inflation
“What that means technically is that it gives workers the big end of the stick to negotiate wage increases. Moreover, we see that wages are increasing. So this is good news for the workers. »
He recalled that this lack of personnel has forced the government to offer generous incentives to recruit essential workers in health and education, but that, for the private sector, “there are companies where it goes be more difficult. Take for example retail. There will be fewer employees. It will go more through online sales and purchases. »
“Companies that are not able to pay wages higher than $15 or $20 [l’heure] are going to have trouble. They will have to increase their productivity […] but businesses that are not able to pay $25 or $30 an hour…there are going to be changes in the economy. »
He described this situation as “mosusse of good news for Quebec”, simultaneously disregarding the fact that an increase in wages is also a source of inflation.