Quebec Finance Minister Eric Girard warned the public that his 2026 budget would be restrained and offer little in the way of financial relief or tax cuts. Still, it includes a handful of measures that could help Quebecers ease some of the pressure on their wallets. Homeowners The Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) budget caps annual increases in school taxes at three per cent, offering some respite after steep property tax hikes in recent years. The measure could cost $449.8 million. The government is also making improvements to the LogisVert program to reduce electricity bills and accelerate ecological transitions. The program offers subsidies to homeowners for energy-efficient upgrades. The budget also includes a new investment of nearly $160 million over four years to encourage landlords to install heat pumps in their rental units, which could lower tenants’ heating bills as Hydro-Quebec raises rates by three per cent starting in April. Homeowners renovating to make their homes more resilient to climate change should also get help through the Rénoclimat – Adaptation grant program. The CAQ government has invested $425 million over five years in grants for backflow preventers, waterproofing and foundation protection work. Parents Girard announced the conversion of 5,000 unsubsidized daycare spots into subsidized spots, a measure estimated to cost $400 million over five years. He also announced a $10,000 donation to the Centre Famille Haute-Ville de Québec and Maison des Grands-Parents de Villeray. Housing Quebec says it plans to improve access to housing by adding 1,000 affordable units to the Rent Supplement Program at a cost of $21 million over three years. It is also investing $209 million over three years to build 1,000 new units, increasing the housing stock for low-income households. With files from the Canadian Press and Noovo Info
