(Quebec) Transport Minister, Genevieve Guilbault, believes she has nothing to do with the Metropolitan Community of Montreal's (CMM) decision to raise the registration tax from $59 to $150, even as people struggle to pay. Transportation deficit.
“It is a decision of the municipalities, it is the authority of the municipalities alone. […] It has nothing to do with the government,” the minister said at a press scrum in the National Assembly on Friday.
The CMM said elected officials were “forced” to raise the tax. “This measure aims to cover the deficit to complete the estimated financial framework of 561 million, after the optimization efforts made by the transport companies,” CMM wrote in a press release.
The Montreal metropolitan community has indicated it may reverse its decision if the Quebec government increases its contribution to public transportation.
Relations between the municipalities and Minister Guilbault have been strained over the transport companies' deficit.
She proposed to compensate part of the deficit up to 200 million. According to the CMM, this is not enough, which “represents a decrease of 38 million compared to aid for 2024, which is already far from meeting needs”.
“common sense”
Genevieve Guilbault says her government is very generous when it comes to public transport. “Since the pandemic the government has given 2.3 billion to public transport alone,” she said.
Not all regions of Quebec can systematically absorb the half-billion-dollar deficit for public transit in Greater Montreal, so it makes common sense.
Genevieve Guilbault
Mme Guilbault also advocated the “total dissolution” of the federal government. “It does not finance public transport operations and does not include programs to fund public transport infrastructure,” she said.
“Guilbault Tax”
Quebec Solidaire didn't miss an opportunity to attack the government on Friday by talking about the “Guilbault tax.”
“There should be better funding for public transport from Mme Guilbault. It's like a Guilbault tax proposed by cities,” said solidarity activist Alexandre Leduc.
“Our natural sympathy is with the municipalities. Is raising taxes the best solution? No,” he added.
From January 2025 the Reed registration tax will increase to $150
