CAQ inflation cheques: a badly targeted measure, say opposition parties
The mass mailing of cheques ranging from $400 to $600 is a "poorly targeted" measure, maintains Québec Solidaire (QS) co-spokesperson Manon Massé.
She deplores the fact that thousands of well-off Quebecers -- including several MNAs -- are currently receiving government assistance.
"This measure misses the mark," Massé said Tuesday at a press conference in the national assembly.
"I'd rather we put that money towards making sure that homeless people get the necessary things to be able to sleep in a heated place ... this winter," she said.
Several QS MNAs, as well as the Liberal MNA for Mount Royal-Outremont, Michelle Setlakwe, have already announced that they will donate their cheques to charity.
"Just this spring, I will be donating the money to MultiCaf, which helps the most vulnerable in my riding," Setlakwe tweeted.
"Is it so complicated to consider family income? It's frankly shocking to see the government miss the mark," she added.
Liberal interim leader Marc Tanguay welcomed the move by his colleague.
I don't think that the members of the national assembly need to have a cheque for $400, $500, or $600, clearly. And I would have liked to see more given to those who earn less," he said.
Tanguay said there was no directive within the Liberal parliamentary wing; the elected members of his political party will be able to spend the money as they see fit.
Joël Arseneau of the Parti Québécois (PQ) said that sending government assistance to someone who earns close to $100,000 a year is "a waste of public funds."
"We have always said that, in a period of inflation, it is the most vulnerable people, low-income families, who should be targeted for government assistance."
"The government's move makes no sense when you consider that there are people who have to go to the food bank to feed themselves and their families, who are living on starvation wages," he said.
His leader, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, added that "handing out cheques to people who don't need them at all" is not a "good public policy."
"We need to support community organizations and food bank efforts so that all families have food," he said.
Quebec MNAs receive a base salary of $95,704. Those who hold other parliamentary functions in addition to their role as MNAs are entitled to an additional allowance.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Dec. 6, 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests about relationship with Prince Harry
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Ontario man devastated to learn $150,000 line of credit isn't insured after wife dies
An Ontario man found out that a line of credit he thought was insured actually isn't after his wife of 50 years died.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they're now named Scouting America
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Rape, terror and death at sea: How a boat carrying Rohingya children, women and men capsized
In March, Indonesian officials and local fishermen rescued 75 people from the overturned hull of a boat off the coast of Indonesia. Until now, little was known about why the boat capsized.
These adults born in the '90s partnered with their parents to buy homes in Ontario
An Ontario woman said it would have been impossible to buy a house without her mother – an anecdote that animates the fact that over 17 per cent of Canadian homeowners born in the ‘90s own their property with their parents, according to a new report.
For their protection, immigrants critical of China and India call for speedy passage of Canada's foreign interference legislation
Canadian immigrants threatened by hostile regimes are urging parliamentarians to quickly pass the 'Countering Foreign Interference Act' so they can feel safe living in their adopted home.
How Drake and Kendrick Lamar's rap beef escalated within weeks
A long-simmering feud between hip-hop superstars Drake and Kendrick Lamar reached a boiling point in recent days as the pair traded increasingly personal insults on a succession of diss tracks. Here’s a quick overview of what’s behind the ongoing beef.