From 2025, the increase in the registration tax will be a minimum of $10, confirmed Mayor Marchand, admitting that he still does not know the precise amount that will be asked of Quebec motorists. The official municipal opposition quickly announced that it would vote against this increase in municipal council.
“I don’t know the amount. I am honest with people. I’m fair-play. I told you that I have this courage,” said Mayor Marchand on Tuesday afternoon during an impromptu press conference preceding the municipal council.
Late Monday afternoon, the Marchand administration confirmed that it was moving forward with a “temporary” $10 increase in this tax, which had been set at $30 since 1992.
An increase of $10 would give an additional $3 million which would essentially go into the pockets of the Municipality which has 300,000 motorists.
Urgency to act
By September 15, the City of Quebec and the Société de l’assurance automobile de Québec (SAAQ) must agree on a precise amount for this registration tax and on an indexation formula for the following years.
“It was urgent. We could not have waited until 2026, added the mayor of Quebec. Now is the time to act. »
The result of the audit on the finances of transport companies should also be known in September.
Asked also about the meeting on Monday noon with the Minister of Transport, Geneviève Guilbault, Bruno Marchand welcomed this meeting while affirming that no precise amount was communicated by the Legault government to absorb the companies’ deficit. transportation across Quebec.
Assuming political risk
A year and a half before the next municipal elections, Mayor Marchand added “assuming the political risk” that comes with the decision to increase a registration tax. He said he refused to be “a lying politician” who would decide on tax increases only after a vote.
Earlier in the afternoon, the Quebec First opposition announced that it will refuse to support the mayor’s decision and that it will vote Tuesday evening against the text that will be proposed.
Affirming “that we don’t know what we’re getting into”, Claude Villeneuve, head of Quebec First, would have wanted there to be a consensus within the agglomeration before moving forward with this measure .
More generally, Mr. Villeneuve added that the Réseau de transport de la Capitale (RTC) must have “management gains” and that the Quebec government “must do its part and contribute more.”
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