Québec City, Tuesday, March 11, 2003 - "The Expenditure Budget we are tabling today combines budgetary discipline with social progress. It once again proves the government’s commitment to continue along the path it has mapped out over the past several years, to improve public services and make Québec stronger." The Minister of State for Administration and the Public Service and Chair of the Conseil du trésor, Mr. Joseph Facal, made this statement after tabling the Expenditure Budget for the fiscal year beginning April 1, 2003.
The Minister pointed out: "In the past eight years, the government has intensified its efforts to restore fiscal health and provide Québec with social programs that are both progressive and responsible." Today, he said, we are reaping the fruits of our efforts to restore fiscal health:
"Together, we have proven that economic prosperity, strict budgeting and social progress not only go hand-in-hand, but also reinforce one another," the Minister emphasized.
A balanced budget will be maintained for the sixth consecutive year in 2003-2004. "The budgetary discipline the Government of Québec exercised now enables us to reinvest in public services that are a priority for our citizens," Mr. Facal pointed out.
In accordance with its commitment, the Government of Québec is injecting into health the funds allocated by the federal government. For 2003-2004, $838 million is being added to what the Government of Québec had already budgeted.
Program spending growth, which would be 3.7% without this injection, therefore totals 5.6% for the coming year. The expenditure objective set for 2003-2004 amounts to $53.6 billion, or $46.6 billion for program spending and nearly $7 billion for government debt service.
The Chair of the Conseil du trésor also affirmed that the Government of Québec continues its tight management. The weight of program spending in the Québec economy remains stable at 18.4%. Apart from expenditures on health and social services, the weight of expenditures is continuously on the decline.
Since the achievement of the zero deficit in 1998-1999, "the government has managed to keep spending increases under control, maintaining them at 4.3% while the economy, based on gross domestic product (GDP), has grown at an annual rate of 5.1%, "the Minister continued. Expenditures on health and social services increased annually by 6.7%, or "GDP + 1.6%", while aggregate growth for other portfolios was limited to 2.9%.
Respecting its commitment, the Government of Québec is continuing to invest in the public’s priorities - health, education and balancing work and family. In 2003-2004, nearly 90% of additional financial resources are allocated to these three sectors. In fact, nearly 55% of program spending growth is allocated to the Santé et services sociaux portfolio, which alone accounts for 41% of total program spending.
The Éducation portfolio represents 26.4% of program spending growth, equivalent to its share of the expenditure budget. For the Famille, Enfance et Condition féminine portfolio, the growth of program spending is equivalent to 8.2%, nearly double its share of the Expenditure Budget.
"The quality of Quebecers’ lives depends on having a modern, efficient government that is close to the people. Citizens expect every dollar spent to be tightly controlled. They want an efficient government that provides prompt access to quality services - a government that is at their service!"; Minister Facal observed.
In conclusion, the Chair of the Conseil du trésor reaffirmed: "Thanks to budgetary discipline, the Québec Government remains focused on change that represents progress for our society. I am convinced that the budget choices found in the 2003-2004 Expenditure Budget will help to improve public services."
Expenditure Budget documents will be accessible, after their tabling in the National Assembly, on the Web site of the Secrétariat of the Conseil du trésor, under "Expenditure Budget".
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