Record line: Mayor Bruno Marchant discusses unpopular solutions

Quebec's mayor, isolated in the region over a registration tax to alleviate public transit shortages, is pushing for unpopular alternative solutions, such as raising property taxes or cutting services.

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“If we don't charge more and the government doesn't give us anything, we have two choices at this point. We raise taxes [foncières] Or we say to the RTC: “Make up the shortfall by significantly reducing services,” Bruno Marchant said on Tuesday.

Others say no

He still has faith in the committee set up by the Metropolitan Community of Quebec (CMQ) to study possible solutions to finance the deficits of public transport companies. But in the last days, Lévis and Saint-Augustin said no to the registration tax. For his part, the mayor of L'Ancienne-Lorette, Gaétan Pageau, seemed unenthusiastic about the idea. “Right now, we're not there,” he continued on the sidelines of a press conference Tuesday morning.

Quebec's mayor recognizes that the disapproval of neighboring cities will influence his administration's decision to impose or not levy a prestige tax. “It's certainly worth considering. There's no question about the people of Quebec paying for something that's so widely used.

If he understands that no politician has a taste for new taxes, he insists that we must find ways to do it. He mainly relies on discussions with the Ministry of Transport. Quebec City wants to know how much money will be added to the budget of the Capital Transportation Network (RTC).

Force other cities

The city is reviewing the powers it has, Mr. Marchant. Not every city in CMQ is required to collect registration tax. But in a merger that includes Quebec, L'Ancienne-Lorette and Saint-Augustin — the central city could choose to levy the tax and force the other two municipalities to increase their contribution, “perhaps by increasing their taxes.”

For Mayor Gaétan Pageau, “the crisis of public transportation is much bigger than the Quebec region or the city. It is province and even country. What I really want is for all stakeholders to sit together and find solutions. Adding a tax here and a tax there will not solve the problem. We need to think long term. “

“Void” exercise

According to Claude Villeneuve, the leader of the opposition at City Hall, the exercise would be “in vain” if Quebec went it alone. “If other cities don't come on board, it's a bit ridiculous to tax Quebec citizens more.” Other cities refuse taxes because they are not popular, he said. “I appreciate a very constructive approach from them.”

For his part, Patrick Paquet, president of Équipe Priorité Québec, is challenging the mayor to follow through on his beliefs and implement the tax. We will remove it when we are in power.

– In collaboration with Taib Moalla