A government led by Éric Duhaime would give Quebecers generous tax cuts and eliminate taxes on gasoline and used consumer goods, the Journal learned.
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These are the top three economic commitments that appear in the Quebec Conservative Party’s electoral platform being unveiled Sunday night in Drummondville during a partisan rally.
If elected, the Conservatives promise to increase the basic personal tax exemption for individuals from $15,728 to $20,000 a year. Therefore, those whose income does not exceed this amount would not pay provincial tax.
Éric Duhaime’s party also wants to cut taxes by 2% for taxpayers who earn up to $92,000 annually. Specifically, PCQ estimates that these two measures would ensure that a family with two children with combined incomes of $80,000 would benefit from a $3,500 per year tax break.
The PCQ did not want to reveal how much this promise would cost the state. “Our encrypted platform will be available during the election campaign, including the cost of our other pledges,” said party spokesman Cédric Lapointe.
abolish taxes
Éric Duhaime has already indicated that he would also like to suspend provincial fuel taxes to “remain competitive with other Canadian provinces” and “mitigate the impact of inflation on taxpayers”.
In addition to eliminating this gasoline tax, the PCQ proposes no longer taxing the resale of all used consumer goods, including cars. Conservatives believe this could avoid double taxation of certain products, which also penalizes the most disadvantaged.
Protecting Quebecers’ purchasing power will be a key issue in the next campaign as Quebecers are hit hard by the rising cost of living. A few weeks ago, the Liberals promised a 1.5% tax cut for the middle class. As for the CAQ, it has already indicated that it intends to send a check to Quebecers by the end of the year without closing the door on potential tax cuts.
labor shortage
Finally, to counteract the staff shortages affecting Quebec businesses, Conservatives are proposing to improve the career extension tax credit for older workers to keep them in employment longer, and to gradually reduce taxes on business wages, like also proposed by the Canadian Federation of Sole Proprietorship (CFIB).
The PCQ’s electoral commitments related to the economy
- Increase the base personal income tax exemption from $15,728 to $20,000
- Reduce tax rates for the first $46,295 to 13% instead of 15% and income taxes up to $92,580 to 18% instead of $20
- Suspend the levying of gasoline taxes in the provinces
- Increase the Career Extension Tax Credit to $3,000 for those 60-64 and $5,000 for those 65 and older
- Stop taxing the resale of all used consumer goods, including cars