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QS wants Quebec to index government benefits twice a year

“Indexing pensions twice a year is a minimum to better protect seniors from inflation."

"With his poorly targeted tax cuts and his cheques distributed in all directions, François Legault is depriving us of precious income that should be used to help those who really need it," says Québec solidaire MNA Haroun Bouazzi, seen in an October 2019 file photo.
"With his poorly targeted tax cuts and his cheques distributed in all directions, François Legault is depriving us of precious income that should be used to help those who really need it," says Québec solidaire MNA Haroun Bouazzi, seen in an October 2019 file photo. Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette

As the National Assembly gets set to resume on Tuesday, Québec solidaire is proposing measures to help some Quebecers deal with the rise in the cost of living.

In a press release issued Sunday morning, Québec solidaire proposes that the Legault government take advantage of the economic update on Dec. 8 “to index the benefits of the government of Quebec on a biannual basis so that they better reflect the evolution of inflation.”

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QS is targeting benefits from the Quebec Pension Plan, the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan, public sector retirement pensions, CNESST benefits in the event of work accidents, the solidarity tax credit, social assistance and compensation for victims of crime.

For his part, the Quebec minister of finance, Eric Girard, recently opened the door to a form of financial support for businesses to help them cope with inflation.

The Coalition Avenir Québec government is also moving forward with its election promise to help individuals cope with the rising cost of living. More than 6.5 million taxpayers will receive one-time assistance in December ranging between $400 and $600, depending on their income for the year 2021.

However, this does not satisfy Montreal MNA Haroun Bouazzi, responsible for finance, who believes that this form of non-recurring aid will not achieve the intended objective.

“With his poorly targeted tax cuts and his cheques distributed in all directions, François Legault is depriving us of precious income that should be used to help those who really need it,” Bouazzi said.

“Indexing pensions twice a year is a minimum to better protect seniors from inflation. The federal pension is indexed four times a year and I cannot believe that we are not able in Quebec to do it at least twice a year,” added Sherbrooke MNA Christine Labrie, responsible for seniors’ issues.

During the election campaign that ended on Oct. 3, all the parties represented in the National Assembly made the fight against inflation one of their main priorities during the next parliamentary session.

  1. A one-time cost living adjustment will see $400 to $600 given to more than 6 million Quebecers, Quebec Finance Minister Eric Girard announced early in November.

    Quebec's rollout of inflation-fighting cheques begins in December

  2. Quebec Finance Minister Eric Girard responds to questions, Wednesday, November 9, 2022 at the legislature in Quebec City. Girard announced a one-time cost living adjustment, sending money from 400$ to 600$ to over six-million adults.

    Beyond inflation cheques, groups hope for targeted aid for low-income Quebecers