MONTREAL - Tradition dictates that finance ministers don new shoes on the eve of tabling a budget, in keeping with the government's austerity theme, Finance Minister Raymond Bachand bought new laces.
Faced with a high deficit and a near-record debt, the Charest government has little room to maneuver. Bachand has pledged that this will be a "continuity budget."
While promising no changes to income taxes, Bachand is expected to unveil a number of new fees and higher taxes. Sales tax, gas taxes and the health contribution have all increase over the past year.
A $325 annual increase in tuition is also expected in the budget.
A major focus of the budget will be measures to encourage northern development and wealth creation in the province.
This will be Bachand's third budget; he resoled his shoes last year and polished them for his 2010 budget. The finance minister is promising new shoes next year, when he eliminates the government's deficit.
CTV will have complete budget coverage from Quebec City Tuesday at 6:00 p.m.
