By Canadian Press

Quebec 2021-22 budget to focus on economy, health and education: finance minister

Mar 25, 2021 | 1:03 AM

Quebec Finance Minister Eric Girard is scheduled to table the province’s fiscal 2021-22 budget today.

Girard told reporters Tuesday the budget will focus on restarting Quebec’s economy, health-care network and education system following the upheaval to the province’s finances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

He warned it will be a challenge to return to the era of consecutive balanced budgets that existed before the health crisis set in last year.

A November economic update projected a record $15-billion deficit for this fiscal year, the province’s first deficit since 2014. 

That update also forecasted an $8.3-billion deficit in fiscal 2021-22 and $7 billion the following year.

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: The mayor's misleading misogyny

Dec 17, 2024

Film Location Map

Thompson-Nicola Film Commission unveils interactive film location map

Dec 17, 2024

1000 Ways to Heal

1000 Ways to Heal: Ribbon Skirts

Dec 16, 2024

Girard’s fiscal 2020-21 budget, tabled in March 2020, was balanced and included spending increases intended to help the province weather the COVID-19 pandemic, then in its early days.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 25, 2021.

———

This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship.

The Canadian Press