2025 Budget

English-speaking community groups welcome support in Quebec budget – with caveats

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English-speaking community groups welcome support in Quebec budget – with caveats

Ruby Pratka, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

editor@qctonline.com

Presenting the Quebec budget on March 25, Finance Minister Eric Girard, who is also the minister responsible for relations with English-speaking Quebecers, announced that the Quebec government would receive $343 million from the federal government over the next four years aimed at funding education and other services for the English-speaking community.

According to the budget, the government plans to invest an additional $10 million over the next five years through the Secretariat for relations with English-speaking Quebecers to improve access to services for the English-speaking community, particularly health and social services, community- based mental health services and legal information.

While they say it’s still early to see how the funding will translate into concrete programs, advocates for access to services in English say they’re optimistic about the fact the funding has been promised.

“I’m happy to say that the government listened to the community and put money into resources the community suggested,” said Jennifer Johnson, executive director of the Community Health and Social Services Network (CHSSN), a Quebec City-based organization which advocates for access to health care in English in the regions.

“Historically, the Canada- Quebec Agreement [involved] a very small transfer from Canadian Heritage to the Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Services. The Quebec government said we’re not interested in doing this much work for this little money. The Secretariat [for relations with the English-speaking community] has worked very hard to make it worthwhile, and they succeeded.”

Johnson said CHSSN will receive a yet-to-be-determined portion of the funding and use it to support community-based mental health services and programs such as the patient navigator program, aimed at making it easier for vulnerable English speakers to access health care in Quebec City, Laval and Gaspé.

“I can say with some confidence that [some funding] will go to local or regional community organizations working in the area of mental health to support their population,” she added.

“Research indicates that people prefer to speak to a health care professional in their mother tongue, because of the personal nature and the emotional component [of those conversations],” Johnson said. “There are very few resources off the island of Montreal to support anglophones, and anglophones do have higher levels of stress associated with lower incomes and difficulty finding jobs to match their skills.”

While the CHSSN and the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN) said they were pleased with the health funding, other organizations such as the Provincial Employment Round Table (PERT) and Montreal-based Youth Employment Services (YES) expressed alarm at the lack of investment in training and job search services targeted at the English- speaking community.

“There was nothing for employment for English speakers in this budget,” PERT executive director Nicholas Salter told the QCT, noting that for the past many years, unemployment has been higher among anglophones than francophones. In 2022, 8.9 per cent of working- age anglophone Quebecers were unemployed, compared to 7.2 per cent of all Quebecers. “Between 2016 and 2021, the employment gap between anglophones and francophones doubled and there has been no funding to address that. Things are not necessarily getting better.”

(QCT version)

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La Pêche hits tax target, keeps hike under 4%

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By Trevor Greenway
Local Journalism Initiative

Taxes are going up 3.8 per cent for La Pêche residents in 2025. 

The municipality passed a “course correcting” budget Dec. 16, and while Mayor Guillaume Lamoureux and his council were eyeing a potential five per cent increase, they were happy to land at just under four per cent. 

“I’m satisfied,” Lamoureux told the Low Down following the Dec. 16 budget meeting – the first public meeting held in La Pêche’s new town hall since it opened on Nov. 18. “It’s always a difficult exercise. The last years have been challenging, but, ultimately, it’s a compromise.”

La Pêche’s 2025 budget comes in at $23,424,512. What median homeowners will notice on their tax bill next year is an increase of $104.77, according to the municipality’s financial documents. 

La Pêche residents were up in arms in November when they received their triennial property assessments in the mail, which skyrocketed 65 per cent for the average homeowner. Lamoureux said the municipality is scaling back on some planned projects next year to keep taxes as low as possible, especially for those whose home values increased significantly. 

“I think that I’m most proud of the fact that we’re able to, again, course correct – reconsider things that we have done in the last few years and reassess them, realign ourselves and re-evaluate our priorities,” he said.

Projects like the new municipal garage and depot, planned road works and a new fire hall in Masham were some of the projects that may be scaled back or pushed down the road when the municipality is in better financial shape, according to Lamoureux.

Referring to a new fire hall and municipal garage, Lamoureux said, “Both of these projects are typically highly subsidized. We’ll do this when the time is right and when the funding is available. But that’s an example of something that we’re pushing down the road.”

Among the biggest jumps are animal control, which has gone up nearly 30 per cent, from $63,000 to $83,000 in 2025. Administration is also up by 8.7 per cent, from $3.6 million to just over $4 million next year. La Pêche will also increase its Transcollines budget to just over $400,000, an increase of around three per cent for the public transportation service. 

The municipality’s current debt load is just over $11 million

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Rosemère Charts a “Naturally Responsible” Path with 2025 Budget

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Maria Diamantis
LJI Journalist

During a special meeting on December 9, 2024, Rosemère’s Mayor Eric Westram and Councillor Marie-Élaine Pitre presented the municipality’s 2025 budget. Approved by Town Council, the budget addresses significant challenges, including the tax transfer associated with the 2024-2026 assessment roll and an increase in quota-shares for organizations connected to the town. It also marks the first budget prepared following the adoption of the 2024-2030 Strategic Plan, aligning financial decisions with the plan’s objectives.
Mayor Westram emphasized that the budget prioritizes sound financial management while maintaining quality services for residents. He highlighted Rosemère’s vision of fostering a responsible and flourishing community, rooted in conscientious growth and environmental stewardship. The 2025 operating budget totals $43,011,100 and includes a 3% increase in general taxes and charges for the average residential tax bill. Additionally, the budget introduces a $0.03 per $100 of assessment contribution to the residential infrastructure fund and reflects a 0.5% increase in the public transit tax due to a 6% rise in the quota-share remitted to the ARTM.
The priorities outlined in the budget reflect a focus on responsible financial decisions, balancing ambition with the capacity of Rosemère’s residents to pay. Each measure was conceived with a long-term perspective to maintain the town’s financial health while meeting present and future needs. Among the initiatives included in the budget are the allocation of $100,000 annually to a climate resilience fund, the adoption of a five-year capital planning framework to ensure improved long-term planning, and the implementation of a tax strategy to offset the impact of the tax transfer. Additional measures include the use of financial reserves to stabilize expenditures, a growth strategy for the infrastructure tax to manage debt, and a detailed analysis of charges designed to encourage eco-responsible behaviors.
The Five-Year Capital Plan, spanning 2025 to 2029, outlines $126.9 million in investments, with 58% funded through non-debt means such as subsidies, third-party contributions, working capital, and the parks fund. These investments focus on updating the water treatment and supply system, upgrading street infrastructure, and adapting municipal buildings for improved usability. The 2025 operating budget also includes key projects aligned with the Strategic Plan. These include developing the employer brand to attract and retain talent, creating a comprehensive climate change adaptation and mitigation plan, implementing an urban forestry plan, continuing the MADA-families initiative to support seniors and families, establishing an online consultation platform to enhance citizen engagement, and conducting detailed planning for the regional commercial hub to adapt and consolidate the town’s territory.
Rosemère’s 2025 budget reflects the town’s commitment to ensuring long-term financial stability while addressing immediate needs and future aspirations. The decisions and initiatives incorporated into this budget illustrate a balance between responsible governance and the municipality’s vision for conscientious growth and sustainability.

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Mayor Outlines 2025 Budget and Priorities for Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension

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Dimitris Ilias
LJI Journalist

Laurence Lavigne Lalonde, the Mayor of Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension, has announced the borough’s 2025 budget, presenting what she describes as a balanced and responsible financial plan. According to Lavigne Lalonde, for the second consecutive year, the borough has managed to balance the budget without using accumulated surpluses from previous years. She emphasized that the overall increase in spending will be limited to 1.0%, which she noted is well below the current inflation rate. In her view, this reflects careful financial management, despite rising costs for goods and services.
Lavigne Lalonde has consistently highlighted that the borough’s priorities are focused on the collective well-being and quality of life for its residents. She identified housing access as a critical issue and stated that the borough is working to address this within its capabilities. As part of these efforts, 2024 saw the introduction of measures aimed at protecting the rental housing stock, including restrictions on housing mergers, with limited exceptions. Additionally, the borough is strengthening partnerships with local organizations to promote social and affordable housing projects. According to Lavigne Lalonde, these initiatives are part of a broader response to increasing social challenges.
Among the key achievements cited by the Mayor was securing over $34 million in funding from provincial and federal governments for the construction of two new community centers, one in Parc-Extension and another in Saint-Michel. Lavigne Lalonde also announced plans for the city to transfer land to facilitate these projects.
In addition to addressing housing and social issues, Lavigne Lalonde pointed to several environmental and public space improvements in 2024. She highlighted the launch of the “Bye Bye Béton!” initiative, which she described as the borough’s first participatory project aimed at removing asphalt and increasing green spaces. According to her, 273 square meters of asphalt were removed and 1,000 trees were planted. Other related initiatives included the addition of curb extensions, the planting of flowers, and the continued maintenance of public cleanliness.
In terms of safety, Lavigne Lalonde reiterated her commitment to protecting vulnerable groups, particularly children and seniors. She described ongoing efforts to calm traffic and enhance safety around schools as part of a larger plan aimed at improving pedestrian and road safety. These initiatives, she said, would remain a key focus for 2025.
Looking forward, Lavigne Lalonde expressed her intention to continue the borough’s transformation into what she described as a greener, more connected, and safer community. She emphasized her commitment to staying attentive to the needs of residents and investing in services that address both present and future challenges.
Among the notable achievements of 2024, as outlined by Lavigne Lalonde, were the development of a traffic-calming plan in collaboration with residents, safety improvements near schools, and the planting of thousands of trees. The borough also secured substantial government funding for community centers and maintained its focus on cleanliness efforts in key areas such as Parc-Extension and Saint-Michel.
While Lavigne Lalonde has framed these efforts as essential to enhancing the quality of life in the borough, the community’s response to the 2025 budget and the initiatives outlined will be closely monitored. Though the Mayor has emphasized sustainability and safety as top priorities, the impact of these measures will unfold over the coming year as they are put into action.

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