The Liberal Party of Quebec (PLQ) wants to allow municipalities that so wish to set up a property tax deferral program on request for low-income seniors aged 65 and over.
The Official Opposition in the National Assembly believes that such a measure would help the seniors concerned cope with the rising cost of living and stay in their homes longer.
The PLQ specifies that a low-income person aged 65 and over could submit a request to their municipality to defer part of their property tax payment until their property is transferred or sold. The Liberals believe that this is a tangible solution to allow these seniors to free up some leeway when they are in financial trouble.
The Liberal Party reports that a similar provision already exists in eight other provinces in Canada and that it was requested in 2019 by the Union des municipalités du Québec (UMQ). He recalls that a motion was adopted unanimously in the City of Montreal to ask the Government of Quebec to allow him to offer such a program.
Official Opposition critic for seniors and caregivers and home care, Linda Caron, says most Quebec seniors want to stay at home as long as possible. The member for La Pinière, in Montérégie, believes that the suggestion of deferring property taxes on request will allow thousands of them to realize such a wish.
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