To help Quebecers get through the “historic crisis” of inflation, Québec solidaire (QS) on Wednesday asked for the freezing of state rates such as Hydro-Québec or childcare services.
“Who at the moment can afford a Hydro increase? Raised the solidarity co-spokesperson Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois on the sidelines of the caucus held before the start of parliament on November 29. The proposed freeze would be for a period of one year, because “the crisis is temporary”, he explained, flanked by his deputies.
This proposal comes a week after the announcement of the Minister of Finance, Eric Girard, concerning a first stage of price caps. From 1er January, a regulatory amendment will limit to 3% the increase in the price of the driver’s license and registration, the contribution paid in residential and long-term care centers (CHSLD) and the contribution for a single room or semi-private in a hospital center for short-term care.
A bill should be tabled soon to extend this measure to other rates such as tuition and daycare fees.
Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois accused the government of being “incoherent”. The Coalition avenir Québec “says it wants to take care of the cost of living, it says it’s its priority, but at the same time it will increase Quebecers’ bills by 3%,” he said. crisis”, the government’s role is “to avoid adding bill increases when all the bills are going up”, he added.
According to him, the cost of a tariff freeze for the year 2023 would amount to 1.3 billion.
Checks are insufficient, according to Nadeau-Dubois
The checks of up to $600 — depending on income — which will soon be sent to 6.5 million Quebecers are insufficient, according to the co-spokesperson for Québec solidaire.
“Sending checks is one thing, but if during this time all the bills continue to increase, this check will quickly run out,” said Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois.
The latter believes that it is necessary to act “on all fronts” in a context of inflation, in particular with regard to the rise in the price of housing in Quebec.
With Alexandre Robillard