• Liberals break election promise to devote all surpluses to tax and debt reduction

QUÉBEC, QC: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today applauded the Couillard government for reducing taxes for Quebeckers, while expressing disappointment at their failure to keep their 2014 election promise to devote all surpluses exclusively to tax reduction and debt repayment.

"A budget surplus does not mean that the government is not spending enough; it means it is taxing its people too much," said CTF Québec Director Carl Vallée. "If the government wanted to increase spending, it should have found money within the existing $100 billion budget by reallocating spending and cutting waste.”

Vallée applauded the retroactive abolition of the health tax, but noted that the marginal income tax rate in Québec remains above 50 per cent, a significant disincentive for Quebeckers to work and earn more, and has called for further tax reductions.

"It is unfortunate that the government did not reduce taxes further," said Vallée. "Despite these small tax cuts, Quebeckers remain the most taxed in North America."

Vallée also noted that in spite of the surplus, Québec remains heavily reliant on equalization payments, with no plan to reduce this $11 billion dependency.