After initially showing reluctance, the Legault government is opening the door to an increase in the gasoline tax in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region to finance public transit services.
At a press briefing in Rimouski on Thursday, Premier François Legault said he was “open” to this proposal after discussing the issue the day before with local elected officials. Such an increase has already been approved in Gaspésie, he recalled, adding that, for the sake of “fairness,” he was “open” to authorizing the same thing in the neighbouring region. “Obviously, it will be the choice of the municipalities. But for the sake of fairness, I am open to looking at it.”
The Bas-Saint-Laurent Transport Board wants to increase the fuel tax by $0.02 per litre. This increase would allow it to add several local public transport routes at fixed times between the region’s cities.
The gasoline tax currently stands at $0.19 per litre.
To implement its project, the Bas-Laurentian transport authority needs the approval of the Quebec government. But the latter has refused in the past, recommending instead the use of a registration tax.
The Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ) is traditionally opposed to tax increases, particularly on gasoline. Ironically, the only elected member of the party to have advocated the opposite for fuel is the resigning minister Pierre Fitzgibbon.
Rather than act on this front, the government decided in December 2023 to give cities new powers to increase the registration tax. In Montreal, this should result in an increase of $59 to $150 in the bill starting in January 2025.
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