Raising the contribution limit in the TFSA.

Quebec is blessed in terms of the energy resources available on its territory. Most obviously, there is the province’s vast hydroelectric capacity, which produces 96% of its electricity. This month, the government made public a series of reports suggesting that it might soon be ready to move forward and allow oil development in the province. In light of this news, it is worth reconsidering some of Quebec’s energy choices to see which kinds of policies might enrich, rather than impoverish, Quebec taxpayers.

Raising the contribution limit in the TFSA.

Raising the contribution limit in the TFSA.

In order to balance public finances, the Quebec government has increased the tax burden of Quebecers considerably in recent years. Now, the purchasing power of Quebecers is lower than that of Canadians in the other provinces. Quebec’s disposable income per capita ranks 9th, ahead of only Prince Edward Island. According to data from the Institut de la statistique du Québec, it seems the province’s tax burden has become so heavy that it has a negative impact on economic growth and on individual disposable income.

The carbon market and the price of gasoline.

The sale of Cirque du Soleil and economic nationalism.

Quebec 2015-2016 Budget.

Digital supplies and the tax system.

In the context of the current negotiations for the renewal of public sector collective agreements, the figures discussed in the public debate can be misleading. The widely reported percentage increases demanded by unions and offered by the government do not represent the pay raises of public sector employees in Quebec, but rather increases to the pay grades themselves. This distinction is crucial for properly understanding how salaries will change following the current round of negotiations.