Watch out for rising rates!
What I fear for the future are the impacts that interest rate hikes will have on public finances. Rates will not stay at the bottom forever. An increase of 1%, 2% or even 3% would reduce the government’s room for maneuver by several billion.
– Christian Ménard
And why not tax cuts (or tax cuts)?
It is a little ridiculous to see our governments spending wholeheartedly. When we spend too much, we increase taxes. So why, when you collect too much income, don’t you just lower taxes?
– Jean-Pierre Fortin, Boucherville
Satisfied with the measures announced
I was happy to hear the measures announced in Minister Girard’s mini-budget to help low-income people and especially the elderly. These people are growing in number and have no defense against inflation. Measures to counter the labor shortage are also very important and urgent. There is a lack of measures for the environment, but the minister responded well by saying that his colleague would have announcements to make in the spring budget.
– Richard Plamondon, Montreal
The third link will hurt the financial cushion
In your comments, Mr. Vailles, you do not take into account the pharaonic costs of the third link in the Quebec City region. It will drive up the debt. I completely disagree with this project, at least in its current form, like many of my fellow citizens.
– Gilles Tellier, Lévis
Create more wealth
When the government has to give checks to 50% of the population to support them financially, that shows that Quebec is a poor society and that the other 50% must work very hard to support all of this. In the long run, it can’t work. Mr. Legault must be right, we must create more wealth if we want to get by!
– Pierre-Louis Rivest, Joliette
Reindex our pension funds!
What is missing from this minibudget? Give back to municipal employees in Montreal and Quebec City, among others, the indexation of their pensions to which they were entitled and which was taken away from them by a liberal law. Our purchasing power is decreasing from year to year. Once again, the “old” are neglected.
– Jacques Rivet
Valuing foreign workers
I think that this budget lacks funds to speed up the integration of workers with an immigrant background. These so-called seasonal workers have acquired an undeniable skill that justifies the expenses incurred to promote the establishment of their families here in Quebec. The study grants will have an effect later. The integration of foreign workers who have acquired experience here has a faster effect.
– Louis Ménard
We must also protect the environment
It is reassuring to see that the Quebec economy is doing well. It’s tempting to think that this growth is leading us to an acceptable debt-to-GDP ratio. But on a planetary scale, this growth has consequences on the environment which are very worrying: climate crisis, pressure on resources and species. To bet on growth to solve the debt problem is to create other problems. It would be important for economists to educate us on economic options that tackle debt while protecting the environment. This poses several challenges, but the stakes are high! The role of economists is essential!
– Paul Bouchard, L’Anse-Saint-Jean
A lot of blur for the future
As in all budgets, there is a lot of unknowns there. What does the pandemic have in store for us, how much US protectionist measures will hurt us, will the federal state be able to maintain its transfers, will the natural disasters caused by climate change make a difference, will retirees respond? or not on call, will inflation and rising interest rates demolish this house of cards? Everything can change very quickly.
– Christian Castonguay