The Quebec Liberal Party opposes the introduction of a kilometer tax

In the Quebec Liberal Party, interim leader Marc Tanguay stressed on Wednesday that “the environment will always transcend all issues.” However, he said he was against implementing a mileage tax and rejected the vision of a Quebec where fewer cars would be driven.

“It is clear that the plan is not about taxation,” Tanguay insisted in a talk on environmental finance. “The PLQ plan is, among other things, REM,” he added, referring to the project launched by Philippe Couillard’s Liberal government in 2016.

He stressed to journalists the importance of developing public transport offer. “Tôuttt est dans tôuttt,” said Raoul Duguay. If you are going to reduce the number of vehicles, you have to improve the public transportation offer much more, and today in Quebec, we have not reached that point.”

Over the years, the Quebec Employers Council, the Metropolitan Montreal Chamber of Commerce and CAA-Québec have taken a position in favor of creating a per-kilometre tax to replace the taxes that currently apply to motorists. The Montreal Metropolitan Community is considering this route, which would involve charging motorists based on the number of kilometers they travel.

Think about the mileage tax

Economy Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon announced in an interview with Radio-Canada on Tuesday that “we’re going to have to think” about “the whole question of millage taxes.” “M^I “Guilbault, the Department of Transportation, needs to take a stand,” he added.

The next day, his Finance colleague amended his comments during an interview on 98.5 FM. “Arriving with additional taxes is not really the right time,” Eric Girard said. However, “if there were no registration fees on small engines, there would probably be more small engines than there are today,” he said.

In Mr. Girard’s opinion, Quebecers will have to “change their behavior,” not just electrify their transportation. “If everyone who has two cars in their driveway today, in five years, has replaced two gasoline cars with two electric cars and we have the same number of cars on the road, the same traffic jams… it’s not more fun,” he said. “Traffic jam in an electric car is more fun.” From a gasoline car.

Mark Tanguay didn’t want to say the same. He also said that Fitzgibbon was simply saying, “with his hands in his pockets,” that the car fleet should be reduced. “You have to be thoughtful and have a vision about this,” he said. He reiterated that in addition to public transportation, electric cars are, in his opinion, part of the solution and we must therefore “promote” their purchase.

‘More combative’

President Tanguay also outlined his party’s three priorities at the dawn of the new parliamentary session. The Liberals will ensure the “purchasing power of Quebecers is maintained,” incentivize the construction and provision of housing and “valorize.” [les travailleurs de] Front line, such as nurses, teachers and educators.

“We’re going to have a bad time, that’s the word of Quebecers,” the Liberal leader promised. “You will see me more combative than ever,” he said. But for now, his party has not revealed any new proposals. Mr. Tanguay promised that he would do so “at the appropriate time.”

The interim Liberal leader indicated his party wants to eliminate property transfer taxes (commonly called the “welcome tax”) on the purchase of a first property. The PLQ also wants to remove the sales tax on “essential products.”

To watch on video