Thursday, March 19, 2026
ADVT 
National

It's budget day in Quebec, and finance minister says don't expect major goodies

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 18 Mar, 2026 09:51 AM
  • It's budget day in Quebec, and finance minister says don't expect major goodies

Quebec Finance Minister Eric Girard is set to table his budget today for the upcoming fiscal year.

Speaking to journalists Tuesday, he said Quebecers shouldn't expect any new big-ticket items as the province tries to reduce the deficit.

Today's budget will likely be Girard's last before the fall general election, and it comes shortly before the governing Coalition Avenir Québec chooses a new leader next month to replace Premier François Legault.

Girard has said the budget will include an envelope of money for Legault's successor — Christine Fréchette or Bernard Drainville — to use to deliver on campaign promises.

In his fiscal update last November, Girard said the province was projected to have a deficit of $12.4 billion for the 2025-26 fiscal year, or 1.5 per cent of the GDP.

Girard has said government spending will focus on core functions and infrastructure, as well as on tackling issues like conjugal violence and homelessness.

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

MORE National ARTICLES

Liberals nominate Fintrac official Annette Ryan as new budget watchdog

Liberals nominate Fintrac official Annette Ryan as new budget watchdog
The Liberal government has nominated a senior official from the national financial intelligence agency as Ottawa's next fiscal watchdog.

Liberals nominate Fintrac official Annette Ryan as new budget watchdog

Opposition parties call for clarity from government as MPs set to debate Iran war

Opposition parties call for clarity from government as MPs set to debate Iran war
Opposition parties from across the political spectrum are demanding clarity from the Liberal government on its position on the U.S.-Israel war on Iran as they prepare for a debate in the House of Commons Monday evening.

Opposition parties call for clarity from government as MPs set to debate Iran war

Downtown Surrey BIA Names Madeleine Nicholls as New CEO and Perminder S. Tung as New Board Chair

Downtown Surrey BIA Names Madeleine Nicholls as New CEO and Perminder S. Tung as New Board Chair
The Board of Directors of the Downtown Surrey Business Improvement Association (DSBIA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Madeleine Nicholls as the organization’s new Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.

Downtown Surrey BIA Names Madeleine Nicholls as New CEO and Perminder S. Tung as New Board Chair

LeBlanc meets U.S. trade czar in Washington as Ottawa looks ahead to CUSMA review

LeBlanc meets U.S. trade czar in Washington as Ottawa looks ahead to CUSMA review
Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc sat down with President Donald Trump's trade czar in Washington on Friday as Ottawa continued preparations for a review of the critical continental trade pact.

LeBlanc meets U.S. trade czar in Washington as Ottawa looks ahead to CUSMA review

Anand: U.S., Israel have 'no blank cheque' in Iran and are bound by international law

Anand: U.S., Israel have 'no blank cheque' in Iran and are bound by international law
The United States and Israel do not have a "blank cheque" in their bombing campaign in Iran, and are still bound by international law, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said on Friday, as the war in the Middle East approaches the seven-day mark.

Anand: U.S., Israel have 'no blank cheque' in Iran and are bound by international law

Eby says OpenAI's Altman will apologize to Tumbler Ridge, B.C., in wake of shootings

Eby says OpenAI's Altman will apologize to Tumbler Ridge, B.C., in wake of shootings
British Columbia Premier David Eby said OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has agreed to apologize to the people of Tumbler Ridge after the mass shooting by a user of the firm's technology, whose worrisome online behaviour wasn't flagged to police by the company.

Eby says OpenAI's Altman will apologize to Tumbler Ridge, B.C., in wake of shootings