Quebec's cities approve new fiscal pact with provincial government

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Quebec’s municipalities on Wednesday ratified a brand new model of their fiscal pact with the provincial authorities, during which they declare to have made a number of positive factors for priorities which can be pricey to them.

The content material of this new “declaration of reciprocity,” which is able to substitute the normal fiscal pact, will not be but recognized, however the municipalities are already congratulating themselves on having succeeded in reaching an settlement that can safe funding for a few of their most essential points, notably homelessness, housing and adapting to local weather change.

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Gathered at a particular common assembly in Quebec Metropolis on Wednesday, 93 per cent of the members of the Union des municipalités du Québec (UMQ) accepted the brand new partnership, whereas the board of administrators of the Fédération québécoise des municipalities (FQM) unanimously adopted a decision signifying its settlement.

In mild of the end result, the Quebec authorities stated it was delighted to have reached an settlement that can make it potential to evaluate taxation between the totally different ranges of presidency.

“Concretely, for municipalities, the declaration will allow them to profit from the introduction of a significant invoice that can modernize municipal taxation to make it extra agile and thus meet the calls for of the municipal sector,” the federal government stated in an announcement.

This invoice is because of be offered “very shortly” to the Nationwide Meeting by the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Andrée Laforest.

The content material of the declaration can be revealed within the coming weeks, however the authorities has already outlined a number of of its key factors: taking motion on local weather adaptation, encouraging the event of a adequate provide of housing, serving to weak individuals, supporting sustainable land improvement and making certain the upkeep of municipal infrastructure.

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“Immediately, after a number of weeks of discussions with the federal government, the solidarity of the municipal world has enabled us to broaden the tax base and procure further quantities to help the precedence points we recognized collectively,” stated UMQ president and mayor of Varennes, Martin Damphousse.

Whereas his group welcomes the settlement, he stated a number of different points stay excellent, together with with regard to public transportation.

“Now, all eyes are on the financial replace of Nov. 7 and our expectations are excessive in regards to the precedence problems with the municipalities,” the UMQ warned.

For its half, the FQM stated it exceeded its preliminary aims by securing an settlement that “a brand new method for sharing the expansion of the (Quebec gross sales tax) be negotiated.”

Along with the UMQ and the FQM, the cities of Montreal and Quebec are additionally a part of this settlement.

The present fiscal pact is because of expire on the finish of 2024.

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