QUEBEC CITY – After saying earlier this week that she would stop awarding daycare permits until July, causing many to panic, Quebec Family Minister Francine Charbonneau has changed her tune.
“Everything that was promised this year is going to be done.”
The government said that it is sparing daycares this year, but officially asking doctors to push back their pay increases.
The Liberal Party said that this is because it is grappling with a $3.1 billion deficit.
Watch: Quebec daycare space freeze
The Liberal House Leader said Wednesday that so-called “austerity measures” shouldn’t come as a surprise.
“We had an election, people talked about that,” said Jean-Marc Fournier. “They all know where we stand and clearly they’re supporting us.”
Still, reports that welfare could also be on the cutting block has the Parti Quebecois on edge.
“We’re very worried about the possibility the government will make cuts that affect the homeless,” said PQ MNA Jean-François Lisée.
However, Lisée’s party was the first to slash welfare benefits when it was in power in 2013.
Liberal Finance Minister Carlos Leitao said that he wishes everyone would just tone down the rhetoric.
“The budget hasn’t even come out yet, you’ll see the budget in the next few weeks, you’ll see all the details,” he said.
“We’re just meeting our responsibility and obligations,” added the President of the Treasury Board, Martin Coiteux.
The budget isn’t expected for another three weeks, but many are throwing in their two cents.
Quebec Solidaire MNA Amir Khadir said that he thinks the Couillard government has the moral obligation to crackdown on tax havens and make big business pay higher tax on capital.
“It costs taxpayers today $700 million a year,” he said.
“Mr. Leitao can call the banks and tell them that we can’t pay them that gift any more. “
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