The Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec (FTQ) expresses its predictable disappointment with the budget tabled today by the Ministry of Finance. The labour federation deplores the lack of a structuring vision to support workers in a context of economic turbulence.
“There is very little in this budget that meets the expectations of workers. This comes as no surprise, given that the Minister of Finance’s budget had already been written when we met with him. It only very partially takes into account the rise in social inequalities, the housing crisis, the current economic uncertainty, or the urgent need to fight climate change. This is yet another illustration of the CAQ’s disconnect from the expectations and needs of Quebec’s population,” said FTQ President Magali Picard.
The government announced a few new expenditures and investments in areas that are important to Quebec society, which is always welcome. That said, the federation deplores the lack of vision and ambition in this budget. For example, converting 5,000 unsubsidized childcare spaces into subsidized ones appears to be good news, but the ideal would be a complete and accessible network of early childhood centres (CPEs). We say yes to additional support for the forestry sector, but when will Quebec have a genuine industrial policy?
The increase in spending levels will be very modest over the coming years, which suggests a return to austerity. Spending on health and social services will be at an acceptable level for 2026–2027, but will increase very little the following year. In education, the increases appear insufficient and will have negative impacts on services. These are political choices, given the significant sums paid into the Generations Fund and the absence of new revenue measures, particularly targeting the wealthiest. The government could also have established a public and universal drug insurance plan, which would have generated savings of several billions of dollars per year.
“In Quebec, there are people who work hard and still can’t make it. There are families cutting back on groceries and people working full time who still can’t make ends meet. Our members, like all Quebecers, don’t need a spectator government. They need a government that protects jobs and improves their quality of life,” added the FTQ President.
After two CAQ mandates, the FTQ is ready to move on and to actively contribute to developing solutions to the challenges facing Quebec society.
“It’s unusual to say this in March, as spring approaches, but we’re already looking forward to October so that elections can finally be called. At the QFL, we’ve already moved on to the next chapter. We’re preparing to work with the next government, regardless of its political stripe. There is an urgent need to restore social dialogue, which has been undermined by this government. This is not a union whim, but a smart way to deal with turbulence and to benefit from on-the-ground expertise,” concluded the FTQ President.