Ottawa's federal budget leaves Quebec's health, asylum and deficit concerns unanswered, Marceau says
Finance minister Nicolas Marceau says the federal budget ignores Quebec's health transfers, $733M in asylum costs and the mégadéduction.
Sources · Quebec Nouvelles
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Quebec's finance minister, Nicolas Marceau, says Ottawa's budget tabled today leaves unanswered the province's claim for asylum-seeker costs, which Quebec wants repaid by March 31, 2027.
Quebec says it has spent $733 million on services for asylum seekers in 2024 and has been reimbursed only $43.1 million so far. Quebec has also pressed Ottawa on health transfers, which are set to expire soon, and says Ottawa has not given a positive answer on either demand.
Marceau's main objection is a federal tax measure, the so-called mégadéduction, which Ottawa announced without consulting Quebec. Quebec says that if it adopted the same measure, the province would lose a significant amount of revenue while it is trying to restore balance to public finances.
Marceau welcomed the federal contribution to fighting homelessness and said Quebec will pay those sums out quickly, without conditions, within its jurisdiction. Quebec will present its own plan for a balanced budget in its economic update.
Will Ottawa repay the remaining $690 million Quebec says it spent on asylum seekers, and by when?
What will the health transfers that expire soon be replaced with?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
By when does Quebec want Ottawa to repay its asylum-seeker costs?
Quebec wants Ottawa to repay its asylum-seeker costs by March 31, 2027. Quebec's finance minister, Nicolas Marceau, says the federal budget does not address this claim.
How much has Quebec spent on services for asylum seekers, and how much has Ottawa repaid?
Quebec spent $733 million on services for asylum seekers in 2024. Ottawa has reimbursed only $43.1 million of that spending so far.
Which federal tax measure is Quebec objecting to?
Quebec objects to the federal tax measure known
