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In the face of rising living costs, greater housing insecurity and a growing homelessness crisis, Quebec’s finance minister has earmarked $2.4 billion over the next five years to help support Quebecers in these key areas.<\/p>\n
Eric Girard tabled the province’s 2026-27 budget Wednesday, just one month before his Coalition Avenir Qu\u00e9bec (CAQ) government elects a new party leader and seven months before the next provincial election.<\/p>\n
Many of these investments are funded over multiple years, meaning the CAQ may not be in power to see all of this through, depending on the results of the October election.<\/p>\n
Here’s what’s in the budget for you \u2014 and when the money might be spent.<\/p>\n
1,000 affordable housing units<\/p>\n
Girard acknowledged the pressure on the Quebec rental market and announced initiatives totalling nearly $741 million over three years to improve access to housing, with $209 million in spending to build 1,000 affordable housing units.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For the 2026-27 period, the government is investing a little over $46 million for the units, but the big chunk will be invested the following year.<\/p>\n
The government says the initiative is intended to increase the supply of housing for low-income households.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As part of the government’s housing commitments, it says adapting and renovating the housing stock is a priority.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Millions are also being invested to continue the Residential Adaptation Assistance Program for residents with disabilities needing to adapt their home and to allow them to stay in their home longer.<\/p>\n
$264 million for homelessness and mental health\u00a0<\/p>\n
The CAQ says there are “substantial needs” to address homelessness and earmarked close to $90 million over five years to help people who are unhoused. Of that amount, $24.8 million is reserved for next year to maintain services, including emergency shelters, mostly in the Montreal area.<\/p>\n
Roughly $174 million over five years will also go toward initiatives to better address the different challenges faced by people with mental health issues. Only about $18 million of that sum is set aside for 2026-27.\u00a0<\/p>\n
WATCH | A closer look at Quebec’s budget:![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1773893889_397_default.jpg\")
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How Quebec’s latest budget deals with housing and cost of living<\/p>\n
Finance Minister Eric Girard earmarked $2.4 billion over the next five years to help Quebecers deal with the increase in living expenses. That includes investments in affordable housing and child care.<\/p>\n
The government is also spending $21 million over three years to open 1,000 new emergency units for those at risk of becoming homeless on July 1 \u2014 $5 million of which will be invested this fiscal year.<\/p>\n
Food banks will also receive $21 million over the next year.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Automated income tax return for low-income people<\/p>\n
The CAQ announced an automated income tax return filing process for low-income Quebecers in order to provide them with the tax assistance to which they may be entitled.\u00a0<\/p>\n
While taxpayers are responsible for reporting all of their income to Revenu Qu\u00e9bec, three to five per cent of Quebecers don’t file their income tax returns, according to the CAQ.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In recent years, the government attempted to simplify the process but the problems persisted.<\/p>\n
This new initiative would mean Quebec tax legislation will have to be amended so that Revenu Qu\u00e9bec can file income tax returns on behalf of certain low-income individuals.<\/p>\n
To qualify, individuals must reside in Quebec at the end of Dec. 31 of the taxation year and must not have filed an income tax return for the taxation year. The initiative would begin in the spring of 2027.<\/p>\n
5,000 more subsidized daycare spots<\/p>\n
The government called costs for child care “unavoidable” but, in an attempt to improve access to affordable care, the CAQ says it will set aside an additional $396.5 million over five years to convert 5,000 non-subsidized child care spaces into subsidized spaces.<\/p>\n
But of the total investment, only $22.4 million will be invested in 2026-27.<\/p>\n
The conversion of thousands of spaces will first take place in regions where there is a significant gap between the number of subsidized and non-subsidized spaces \u2014 prioritizing the most disadvantaged communities.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The government did not specify the priority regions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Support for women’s shelters<\/p>\n
The number of women killed in the context of intimate partner violence since the start of 2026 warrants the need to invest in fighting it, Girard says.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Reports of conjugal violence in Quebec tripled over the last decade. In February, women lined up in front of the National Assembly to demand the government take action. Groups say previous Quebec budgets ignored the need among help centres and shelters.<\/p>\n