More Ontarians than ever are moving to the Outaouais, for its cheaper housing, daycares and the “character” of its nature. But through some sleight of hand, many avoid paying all the taxes due. And the extent of this tax avoidance remains elusive, as the number of reported moves reaches record highs.
Cottages grow in the forests on the Quebec side of the Ottawa River. In the driveways, the crown on the license plates suggests the origin of these new residents.
Keeping your Ontario license plate while remaining in Quebec to avoid the associated bill is a well-known ploy in the region, especially since the fine imposed is a maximum of $300. Then, catching the culprits requires “several investigative steps,” underlines the Gatineau City Police Department, which was only able to catch 12 of these offenders last year.
On the side of the MRC of Pontiac, the prefect, Jane Toller, agrees. “We want them, Ontarians. We share a story with them. But, she tells them in English, if you stay more than six months, commit to Pontiac, in Quebec. » “We offer services, but we do not receive provincial funds for them. If we could get the money back, that would help a lot. »
The influx of Ontarians (and Canadians in general) into the Outaouais has continued to grow in importance since the end of the pandemic. The migration of non-Quebecers to the region amounted to 4,000 people in 2017. It would exceed 7,000 people in 2023, according to compilations from the Outaouais Development Observatory.
How many of them avoid Quebec bills thanks to their proximity to Ontario? Impossible to really know. Moving to Quebec comes with homework, notes Mme Toller, this elected official herself came from Ontario a few years ago. “I don’t want to “Torontoize” Pontiac. I left Toronto for reasons. »
Millions of dollars
Even more than license plates, some Ontarians manage to maintain a primary residence in their home province. They thus avoid paying all Quebec taxes.
The duty managed to speak with one of them who, despite living in Quebec, registers his business in Ontario. “I generate my income in an office in Ottawa. My accountant told me that it was more advantageous to pay your taxes in Ontario,” he says anonymously so as not to be worried by the tax authorities. The savings can amount to several thousand dollars over the years.
An apartment, a cousin’s address or a post office box can also serve as a “main residence” to avoid Quebec tax while enjoying a cheaper life. At the start of 2024, the average rent for a two-bedroom unit was $1,253 in Gatineau, compared to $1,698 in Ottawa.
However, several (400 in 2023) are caught. Revenu Québec recovered nearly $6 million last year alone, an amount that has been increasing for several years. A page on the Quebec tax website allows the public to denounce anyone suspected of tax avoidance.
Going under the radar is not easy, says Jennifer Wallner, a specialist in taxation and federalism at the University of Ottawa. The authorities are well aware of the schemes. “You can’t just come here and enjoy it,” she explains. Many also appear on the radar of the Quebec government when they benefit from the health system without their residence address matching in the files of the different ministries.
Anglo-Quebecers, Franco-Ontarians
The tens of thousands of Ontarians who live on this side of the border do not only weigh on Quebec’s finances: its linguistic landscape is also disrupted. The proportion of unilingual English speakers increases from year to year in Outaouais. And nearly 65% of Gatineau’s population speaks both official languages, the highest rate in Quebec.
Chad Bean is one of these new Gatineau residents who have settled on the Quebec side of the Ottawa River for less than a year. Linguistic statistics should not overshadow the good understanding that reigns in the region, according to him. “For some people, if you are not unilingual French, you are not Quebecois. This is not true. »
Two languages are better than one, says the man who has been sailing between the two provinces for 30 years. The Canadian government, after all, hires half of the workers in the region and promotes the learning of a second language. “For us, it’s not “we need”, it’s “we want””, he testifies in French to the Duty.
The closer we get to Quebec, the more French becomes a common language, according to him. Moving and adapting to Quebec is “not a big leap” for many Ontarians already used to seeing French around them, he says. “It’s not like someone from British Columbia or Alabama. »
Chelsea, new Westmount?
Among the other attractions of Quebec for Ontarians: Gatineau Park. And it is not new: Prime Minister MacKenzie King already established his estate in the area of Chelsea in 1920.
Today, this bilingual municipality is experiencing one of the most intense demographic booms in Quebec. More than 1,400 people have settled there since 2016, for a current total of 8,300 souls. The appearance of certain residences could evoke a certain Westmount.
The municipal council and resolutions are held in French, assures the mayor, Pierre Guénard. The language of public interventions, however, depends on the citizen’s preference. “It makes it accessible and diverse. It allows people to get involved. Ultimately, we want strong citizen participation. »
The municipality, whose population is split half and half between French and English speakers, wants to preserve “the character and the social fabric” that makes it so charming, said the mayor. “In a harmonious and respectful manner. »
French is likely to be Chelsea’s language of the future. A second elementary school must be built there in the coming years, and the language of learning will indeed be that of Tremblay.
This report is supported by the Local Journalism Initiative, funded by the Government of Canada.