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In Focus > 2022-2023 provincial budget plan and benefits for RCCAQ members

2022-2023 provincial budget plan and benefits for RCCAQ members

posted on 1:16 PM, March 31, 2022

In his speech on March 22, Quebec’s finance minister, Éric Girard, unveiled the 2022-2023 budget, i.e. the last provincial budget prior to the provincial election scheduled for October 3.

As we all know, the past two years have been marked by an unprecedented public health crisis that has impacted Quebec’s public finances. Now that the worst of the pandemic appears to be behind us, inflationary pressures are increasing the cost of living significantly. This is the hot-button issue that the provincial government is seeking to tackle on a priority basis in this year’s budget.

For example, Mr. Girard announced direct public assistance to ease the consequences of the rising cost of living. A $500 cheque will be sent out to over 6.4 million Quebecers, representing an expenditure of $3.2 billion. Above and beyond this high-profile measure, the 2022-2023 budget provides for $22 billion in new spending over the next five years, most notably in the healthcare field. Mr. Girard is still on course for a return to a balanced budget in fiscal 2027-2028.

 

Benefits for RCCAQ members

The labour situation in Quebec has been quite variable over the past two years, but one issue is still with us: there is a shortage of qualified workers. In recent months, the RCCAQ has been putting pressure on the provincial government to maintain custom-tailored requalification programs. Following the 2022-2023 budget announcement, we are pleased to note that these programs will still be funded: the government has earmarked $179 million over the next two years to support worker requalification and labour market integration. 

In addition, by 2026-2027, $135.2 million will be allocated to program modernization with a view to growing the pool of skilled and qualified trade workers. For the time being, no sectors have been prioritized. The RCCAQ will try to have the insurance industry included in this initiative in its discussions with the government over the next few weeks, particularly during our lobbying day in Quebec City on May 10.

In other news, the provincial government will be allocating $290.2 million over five years to facilitate immigrants’ labour market integration and to preserve French as Quebec’s common language. Measures will be taken to:

    • Boost support for individuals learning French.
    • Make Quebec’s regions more attractive to immigrants.
    • Speed up the processing of immigration applications. 

 

 2022-2023 budget highlights

Among the measures announced by Quebec’s finance minister last week, the following highlights are particularly noteworthy: 

  • $22 billion to help Quebecers cope with the higher cost of living and to support economic growth:
    • A one-time assistance payment of $500 for 6.4 million Quebecers, for a total expenditure of $3.2 billion. 
    • $634 million over six years to increase the supply of social and affordable housing and to improve housing quality in Quebec. 
    • $8.9 billion over the next five years for the healthcare system. 
  • Real GDP grew by 6.3% in 2021; growth is expected to reach 2.7% in 2022. 
  • $2.8 billion over five years for primary, secondary and post-secondary education. 
    • $1.6 billion to support academic success and high school graduation rates. 
    • $1.2 billion to improve access to post-secondary education and graduation rates. 
  • $4.2 billion over six years to boost economic productivity, reinforce immigrants’ workforce participation, support regional economic development and the economic recovery and promote Quebec culture.
    • $2.2 billion to boost Quebec’s economic productivity. 
    • $290 million to reinforce immigrants’ workforce participation. 
    • $1.5 billion to support regional economic development. 
    • $258 million to support the economic recovery and promote Quebec culture. 
  • An additional $1 billion for the 2030 Plan for a Green Economy.

$1.1 billion to strengthen community-based initiatives and $1.1 billion in community support.