Geneviève Guilbault warmly welcomes the idea of a new registration tax to fund Quebec’s public transport system, but since “money can’t be invented,” she agrees, “all avenues” should be explored.
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“We’re discussing it. The mayor of Québec mentioned the matter vaguely to me when I met him about all the transportation files,” the transportation minister said on Monday.
Ms. Guilbault was responding to our article on how the Communauté Métropolitaine de Québec (CMQ) is studying the possibility of imitating Montreal and is reaching out to the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) to apply for an additional tax in the Quebec region raise as well as in Lévis, on the same registration.
“I’m not saying I’m for or against a new tax. Of course, I’m also not enthusiastic about the idea of new taxes. We are in full inflation,” she initially dropped.
“But at the same time you have to be clear, calm and intelligent in this reflection. The petrol tax will be reduced. By 2030 we will have 1.6 million light electric vehicles on the road, so that means less money to buy gas. It’s part of a much broader discussion I’m having with elected officials about public transport funding, so I want to take the time to make things right with the people involved. »
Nothing decided, assures Marchand
Québec Mayor Bruno Marchand, who was also interviewed, also argued that public transport funding considerations are much broader. Many scenarios – like the registration tax – are being studied in cooperation with the Quebec government for 2024 and beyond, but nothing has been decided yet, he assured.
“Will these taxes be part of the measures we are going to put in place? Don’t bet on it today. We haven’t arrived yet. Not because we study it, we will introduce it,” stressed the one who also leads the CMQ. In an interview, however, his right arm, Pierre-Luc Lachance, mentioned a possible founding “in the medium term” before 2025.
In the “Vision on sustainable mobility on the horizon of 2041” presented last Friday, the CMQ nevertheless wrote in black and white that he wanted to be inspired by the metropolis’ experiences “in terms of eco-tax, especially taxation in favor of the general public”. »
reaction of the opposition
According to Équipe Priorité Québec elected officials Patrick Paquet and Stevens Mélançon, there is no longer any doubt that the mayor is waging a war on the automobile. They also accuse him of hiding his real intentions from the population.
Without commenting on the content, opposition leader Claude Villeneuve believes this idea of an additional tax on drivers – to fund public transport – comes at a very bad time and sends a “terrible message” to the population. “So we will not sell the tram and increase support for the project, especially in the outskirts. »
Transition Québec director Jackie Smith and Accès Transports Viables organization encouraged the CMQ to introduce an additional registration tax and use whatever leverage the law gives it.
– With the collaboration of Marc-André Gagnon