(Quebec) Paul St-Pierre Plamondon sees life in blue. According to the leader of the Parti Québécois (PQ), if Quebec became a state in 2027, not only would its financial situation be “very close to a balanced budget,” but the abolition of one level of government would also allow it to “become a state.” to reach”. “significant savings” that would improve its ability to provide better services to the population.
Published at 11:03 am. Updated at 11:26 a.m
After months of postponements and at the end of a series of interviews that began last week with La Presse, Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon finally presented his first-year budget for a sovereign Quebec on Monday.
His study is divided into two parts. The first conducts a pro forma analysis of the finances of an independent Quebec, which would make the same decisions as those of Ottawa and then of a country governed by the Parti Québécois.
“If Quebec independence were essentially free, or if it were to prove slightly advantageous in the first year from a pro forma study perspective, then in any case this will allow the Government of Quebec to generate significant new savings from the first year “As long as the Quebec government allows itself to make smarter financial decisions,” says -he.
In response to his opponents’ main economic argument against sovereignty, the PQ leader claims that a Quebec country would not suffer from the end of equalization, since the province receives almost 13 billion annually from this federal program (or 9.6 billion Euro). billion net, taking into account the own contribution). As he explained on our pages last week, Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon estimates that ending the overlap of ministries and programs between Quebec and Ottawa would result in savings of 8.8 billion.
Additionally, the PQ adds that depending on the decisions it makes as government, it has “identified $2.1 billion in additional gains,” which the party says “amounts to $10.9 billion.” -dollar increase”. [les] predicted savings in the federal ministries.”
“The Parti Québécois would choose to reinvest all of these amounts in two key budget items: education and pensions for seniors,” the budget document says.
No turbulence
Reinforced by the arrival of a fourth of 125 MPs in the Blue Room and in the scenario in which Paul St-Pierre Plamondon’s party takes power in 2026, “the fiscal situation of an independent Quebec on day one (for the year 2027 at the earliest” ) fiscal year) would essentially correspond to the forecast for a province of Quebec if we take into account the Quebec share of the federal deficit: we would be very close to a budget balance, with small deficits, in one case between 4 and 6 billion dollars or the other,” argues the PQ.
“An independent Quebec will generate $82.3 billion in new revenues that are currently collected by the federal government and currently equate to very few useful services for the population, while meeting the basic responsibilities of the State of Quebec [soumises] to financial pressures and historic failures,” the PQ added in its first-year budget.
“The economic and financial situation of the Government of Quebec and Canada has changed significantly since 2005, when François Legault published his version of the finances of a sovereign Quebec. The explosive expansion of the federal government, the budget imbalance in health spending, among other things, the explosion in spending in provincial jurisdictions, the size of the federal debt, which doubled under Justin Trudeau’s Liberals, the federal government’s persistence in continuing to invest in fossil fuels, the refusal , to comply with the regulations in order to achieve efficiencies, for example through the preparation of a uniform tax report, and many other aspects, to name just a few,” adds the party of Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon.
According to the PQ, a limitation of its approach is that it does not “calculate the positive effects that will arise from Quebec’s independence,” which ignores the risks of economic turmoil sometimes mentioned by its opponents. One of the achievements of independence, the party writes, was the massive arrival of embassies and diplomats from around the world to the Quebec region.
“The establishment of more than 200 embassies in Quebec City, direct investments in the Quebec economy that are determined exclusively by the interests of Quebec, a monetary policy that is exclusively geared to the economic situation of Quebec and its interests”: This is what the Parti Québécois assesses there “There is no doubt that an independent Quebec would not only be able to absorb the federal government’s expenses and maintain all services, but would also have significant new sums to invest as it saw fit, using only those of the Die People of Quebec as interests and priorities.”
Active exchange
Last week, during heated discussions at Salon Bleu, Quebec Premier and Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) leader François Legault asked his PQ opponent to explain how many Quebecers would lose their jobs if Quebec declared independence.
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, LA PRESSE ARCHIVE
François Legault, Premier of Quebec
“What he is telling us is that he thinks the federal government is spending too much and that in a sovereign Quebec they would cut the spending that the federal government is currently doing by 8 billion. At the same time, could he tell Quebecers on Monday how many Quebecers would lose their jobs as a result of the $8 billion in cuts? » asked François Legault, pointing to the benefits that the PQ wants to achieve by ending overlapping programs and ministries.
“People, your priority is not to hold a referendum on the sovereignty of Quebec. It’s about being able to arrive, being able to pay for their groceries, being able to pay their rent and being able to survive the inflation crisis that we are currently experiencing,” M. Legault added.