Jeremy Morse
Shawville March 30, 2022
Quebec taxpayers can expect to receive an extra $500 in the next year, but not everyone is pleased with the handout.
On March 22, the provincial government announced their budget for 2022-23 fiscal year. The budget includes a one-time payment of $500 for taxpayers with an annual income of $100,000 or less after taxes.
This is the final budget to be . . .
set by Legault’s CAQ government before October’s provincial election.
The $3.2-billion expenditure is supposed to help taxpayers combat Quebec’s rising cost of living, but the opposition claim that the handout is solely meant to generate popularity for the CAQ government ahead of the provincial election.
“I think it’s okay for the people that are going to be getting it. Especially for the elderly and for the kids,” said Yvon Vaillancourt, a resident of Shawville. Though, when asked whether this one-time payment is a long-term solution, Vaillancourt responded, “No, not really. That’ll just put a bandage on it.”
In the fall, the provincial government gave individual taxpayers with an annual income of $50,000 or less after taxes a one-time payment of $275, with couples receiving a collective $400 if their income was less than $56,000 after taxes.
Eligibility for the latest one-time payment is based on individual income, meaning that couples may receive a collective $1000 for their household.
Similarly to Vaillancourt, Mike Hodgins of Shawville feels that the money could have been better spent elsewhere. “I think we could’ve spent the money somewhere else where it was more needed than giving everyone a $500 bonus,” he said. “I rather see it in healthcare and hiring more healthcare providers after being in such a big pandemic.”
