QUEBEC CITY – Every little bit counts.
Thursday, the Couillard Liberals announced cuts to the province’s Women’s Council will save them half a million dollars.
The Liberals are sticking to their objective of balancing the budget this year, even asking international students to pitch in.
READ MORE: Quebec National Assembly reconvenes amidst protests
Get daily National news
French undergraduate students will no longer benefit from Quebec tuition fees; they will have to pay the Canadian rate, around $6650 a year – a total of $30 million saved dollars for the province.
That’s not all.
The Health Minister says starting in April, doctors will have to prioritize generic drugs.
READ MORE: No salary hikes for Quebec’s public sector workers
“We expect to save at least $40 million,” said Gaétan Barrette.
Barrette says generic drugs are as safe as brand names and cost way less.
Regardless, unions have declared war.
More than 1,000 protesters gathered in front of the National Assembly and insisted Liberal cuts are having a real impact.
- Ontario PC MPPs who spent big on hotels face questions as minister resigns
- 2 Saskatchewan research farms to stay open as province enters MOU with Ottawa
- How Canada helped in past U.S. wildfires as Ford says some are ‘chirping’
- Nenshi seeks Calgary seat in next election as Estabrooks vies for Edmonton-Strathcona
“We see cuts in the number of classes that are taught, the number of people who are teaching, cuts in the opening hours of laboratories, libraries,” added Parti Québécois MNA Véronique Hivon.
The demonstration didn’t impress Quebec’s Treasury Board President, Martin Coiteux.
READ MORE: Tensions escalate between Quebec government and municipalities
“The government has to defend the collective interest,” he said.
“I understand the unions defend the interest of their members but ultimately they cannot ask all Quebecers to work for them.”
Unions promise to keep pressuring the government this spring as they continue to negotiate new collective agreements.
READ MORE: Unions challenge Quebec pension reform in court
Unions are asking for a 13.5 per cent salary hike over the next three years.
The Liberals have offered three per cent over five years.
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.