Meanwhile, CARP and FADOQ (Quebec’s largest 50+ Association) will be watching the Quebec provincial budget set to be tabled March 30th 2010. Finance Minister Raymond Bachand has indicated this budget would be a “slim” one. With Provincial deficits escalating to $4.7 billion this year, there is speculation the budget will include measures to increase provincial sales taxes, user fees and implement new charges for a variety of other services. Despite all these fees, Treasury Board President Monique Gagon-Tremblay will still need to make severe cutbacks if the government still intends to balance its books by 2013-2014.

Quebec has an anti-deficit law that gives its government five years to make up any deficit greater than $1 billion. Following a federal budget that has been disappointing for seniors, CARP hopes that Quebec’s budget will at least take steps to mitigate any damage new fees and taxes could have on seniors living with fixed income. As it stands GIS recipients have yet to receive an increase since 2008 but the cost of living keeps increasing!

Keywords: budget