MONTREAL – Finance Minister Carlos Leitao will introduce his third budget Thursday morning, but he decided to step away from tradition.
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The minister didn’t buy a new pair of shoes, as per Canadian tradition for finance ministers introducing new budgets.
Instead, Leitao brought out polish to shine a pair of shoes he already owns as a symbolic gesture that the Quebec economy is performing well.
“It is a budget that shows Quebec that we have regained control of our own public finances,” Leitao told reporters from his office.
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Thursday’s budget is expected to be his second that will be balanced and with zero deficit.
It will be released at 4 p.m. Thursday.