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
As Canada warms, infectious disease risks spread north
Cases of Lyme disease have now increased more than 1,000 per cent in a decade as the warming climate pushes the boundaries of a range of pathogens and risk factors northward.
Trump confronts repeated boos during raucous Libertarian convention speech
Donald Trump was booed repeatedly while addressing Saturday night’s Libertarian Party National Convention.
Custom baseball card released of Blue Jays fan struck in the face with foul ball
Liz McGuire, the Blue Jays fan who was struck in the face with a 110 m.p.h. foul ball last week, has been pictured on a custom baseball trading card applauding her fandom to the game.
Grayson Murray, two-time PGA Tour winner, dead at 30
Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray died Saturday morning at age 30, one day after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge at Colonial.
This type of screen time has the worst effect on kids: experts
According to some experts, there is one type of screen time that is continuously excessive, and it's having a severe effect on our children.
Experts seeing 'more and more' hate content created by artificial intelligence
B'nai Brith Canada flagged the issue of AI-generated hate content in a recent report on antisemitism.
The dreams of a 60-year-old beauty contestant come to an abrupt end in Argentina
A 60-year-old woman saw her dreams of becoming the oldest Miss Universe contestant in history melt away in a haze of sequins and selfies Saturday at Argentina’s annual beauty pageant.
Pro-Palestinian protesters expected to meet with U of T administration
Pro-Palestinian protesters who have set up an encampment on the University of Toronto campus are expected to meet with school officials today.
Are you a loud snorer? You could have sleep apnea
You'll have a lot more energy throughout the day if you get a good night's sleep, but not everyone does due to a medical condition.