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Plante: Quebec government chose to ignore Montreal housing crisis in new budget

by Lorraine Carpenter

“The Quebec government is further jeopardizing the affordability of living in Montreal and the wallets of thousands of families. They will have to explain why.”

Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante commented on the new provincial budget yesterday, criticizing the Quebec government for failing to support those in Montreal and other cities who are feeling the effects of the ongoing housing crisis. Plante also commended the province’s allocation of $400-million to public transit in the new budget, but stressed that there’s an urgent need to review the funding and “provide predictability over five years.”

“In its new budget, the Quebec government has chosen to ignore the housing crisis that is hitting Montreal and other Quebec cities hard. To offer real financial respite to the population, we must help those who are struggling to find housing.

“By ignoring the housing crisis, the government is further jeopardizing the affordability of living in Montreal and the wallets of thousands of families. They will have to explain why.”

Plante: Quebec government chose to ignore Montreal housing crisis in new budget

Quebec Finance Minister Eric Girard dropped the 2023–24 budget yesterday, revealing that the government is committing a total $147.8-billion in spending and predicting a major drop in economic growth. The budget includes the biggest income tax cut in Quebec history (saving $814 per year among those who earn $98,540 or more, but only $321 for the majority of Quebecers whose income is under $49,275), nearly $5.6-billion on healthcare ($565-million of which will go to social services and mental health) and $1-billion over six years in funding for housing, with $650-million going toward completing 5,250 social housing units. During last fall’s election, the CAQ promised to build 11,000 social housing units over the course of its next mandate.

For more on the 2023–24 Quebec budget, please see the slider below.

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by Lorraine Carpenter

Editor in chief
Lorraine Carpenter was born in Montreal and studied communications and journalism at Concordia. She co-founded Cult MTL in 2012 following 12 years at the now-defunct Montreal alt weekly the Mirror, where she worked in editorial as copy editor and music editor. She’s dedicated to supporting the cultural scene in Montreal.