Québec City, Tuesday, March 11, 2003 - "The Québec Government has resolved to focus on the future. It is making choices that will build a better Québec by putting emphasis on the public’s priorities: health, education and balancing work and family." The Minister of State for Administration and the Public Service and the Chair of the Conseil du trésor, Mr. Joseph Facal, made this statement after the tabling of the 2003-2004 Expenditure Budget.
"The Government’s Horizon 2005: Plan d’action pour un Québec meilleur Action Plan sets forth a vision of change aimed at improving Québec. This vision emphasizes the basic values we share as a society. It is these great values that guided the government’s choice of priorities for the year ahead," the Minister affirmed. The priorities are:
Despite the fiscal imbalance, the Québec Government is continuing, within the limits of its means, to invest in services that make the greatest contribution to the quality of Quebecers’ lives.
The health and social services sector continues to be one of the government’s top priorities. "Ever since restoring a balanced budget, Québec has made considerable efforts to uphold the fundamental principle of universal access to free healthcare. The health budget has been increased by nearly 50%".
"The commitment to health in 2003-2004 is unprecedented," Mr. Facal pointed out. The budget for the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux, which amounted to $17.5 billion at the start of fiscal year 2002-2003, will rise to $19.1 billion for the fiscal year beginning April 1, 2003. This nearly $1.7-billion increase breaks down into $285 million in additional expenditures incurred in 2002-2003, plus $1.4 billion in 2003-2004 to concretely pursue the priorities of the Making the Right Choices plan.
Mr. Facal indicated that this reinvestment is intended to meet the challenge of change in the organization of services and management of the health and social services network. The regional boards and the establishments throughout the network will have to sign performance contracts as a means of ensuring that the target results are reached.
Additional resources of $657 million are being allocated to make educational institutions stimulating, success-oriented environments. This represents a 6% increase over the previous year. Education expenditures have grown by over $2 billion since 1998-1999, reaching $11.7 billion in 2003-2004. This enhanced budget makes it possible to fund the rising cost of services and act on the commitments made concerning performance contracts with the universities, the agreement on work time with the teachers, preventing students from dropping out of school with the Agir tôt pour réussir plan and facilitating access to extracurricular activities with the What’s Up after School Program.
"Over $200 million in investments will help balance work and family," the Minister stated. Since the adoption of the Family Policy in 1997, the budget of the Famille, Enfance et Condition féminine portfolio has almost doubled. In 2003-2004 it amounts to over $2 billion, an increase of 11.1% from the year before.
With its Family Policy, the Québec Government shows the importance it gives to the public’s desire to balance family and work. "A first step in this direction was made with the addition of nearly 38,000 subsidized daycare places by 2005, a total of 200,000 subsidized places that will be available to families with young children," the Minister continued.
The Budget also provides for additional appropriations to act on the other priorities included in the Horizon 2005: Plan d’action pour un Québec meilleur Action Plan. Among them, the Minister mentioned the measures taken to ensure full employment and attract investment, particularly in housing and roadwork.
He also emphasized the additional appropriation for the Ministère des Régions, of $42 million to implement the Un Québec fort de ses régions Action Plan. Moreover, the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications is receiving an additional $50 million in appropriations to disseminate Québec culture and support artists, including $20 million for the implementation of a new policy on film, Pour mieux porter le Québec à l’écran.
Moreover, $40 million is allocated to implement the action plan for the strategy to combat poverty. Finally, to promote a "Green Québec", the Ministère de l’Environnement will see a $12 million increase in its appropriation.
"By putting its emphasis on the public’s priorities, the Québec Government is giving itself the means to achieve social progress for the well-being of today’s Quebecers and future generations," the Chair of the Conseil du trésor concluded.
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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