In a context of an ultra-majority CAQ government, the Union of Quebec Municipalities (UMQ) does not intend to play the role of unofficial opposition. On the other hand, the municipal world warns that it is imperative to better distribute tax revenues to fight effectively against inflation.
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This is what Daniel Côté, president of the UMQ and mayor of Gaspé, pointed out to the Log during an end-of-year review interview.
“Quebec municipalities are partners of the Government of Quebec. Our role is not to be in opposition. But do we agree on everything? No. In particular on municipal taxation and the sharing of tax revenues according to our real responsibilities. On that, there is a big gap in our positions,” he said.
The latter thus deplored “the big imbalance” between the budgetary realities of each other: “The Quebec government generates $14 billion in additional revenue thanks to inflation. Even though they have expenses, they have so much additional income that they could afford to redistribute checks to more than 6 million citizens. For municipalities, in 2022, inflation will cost us $1 billion more. We can just give tax increases to our citizens. »
Tax pact and green pact
To fight against this reality, the UMQ expects the CAQ to quickly respect its electoral commitment to include, in a law, the sharing of a QST point with the cities. “We are going to want to cash in on this gain at the start of the year. [2023]. That is a premise for the negotiation of the next fiscal pact,” added the president of the UMQ.
In addition to the tax pact which expires on December 31, 2024, Mr. Côté insisted on the green pact which should allow cities to begin adapting their infrastructures to climate change. The needs are estimated at $2 billion, per year, over a minimum period of five years. The federal government will also have to put its hand in its pocket, he specified.
Municipal autonomy
Faithful to the rhetoric of the UMQ, Daniel Côté repeated that cities want to be considered as “local governments” and not as simple “creatures of the Quebec government”. In the spring of 2022, the short standoff between the Legault government and the Marchand administration over the tramway made it possible to illustrate, according to him, everything that the provincial level should not do.
“In this case, where it hurt was that the Government of Quebec came to intervene squarely in a field of municipal jurisdiction in land use planning, he recalled. When everyone deals with their own area of expertise, it usually helps to have healthy relationships. »
The sequence of things
In May 2023, during the Assises de l’UMQ in Gatineau, Daniel Côté will theoretically have the right to return for another year at the head of the organization. But tradition provides that he gives up his place at the end of his two terms.
While saying he is strongly attached to the traditions of the organization, the mayor of Gaspé has not completely closed the door to a new mandate if the board of directors of the UMQ were to decide so.