Covid-19: Minister Girard infected days before budget update

Finance Minister Eric Girard found himself battling COVID-19 days before an economic update to be presented to the National Assembly on Thursday.

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Mr. Girard explained that he began experiencing symptoms on Friday. The tests conducted on Saturday confirmed the infection.

“I am working in isolation for the next few days, following their instructions [Santé publique]. I plan to be back in time to give an economic update in Qc on Thursday,” the minister said on his Twitter account on Sunday.

Delivered amid an inflationary context with an economic reality that no longer bears any relation to what was in place when the budget was introduced last March, the fiscal update should help clarify the portrait of Quebec’s economy.

As of today, Quebec has a one in two chance of ending recession, according to Minister Girard’s estimate, but promises that it will face an economic slowdown in 2023.