{"id":605265,"date":"2026-04-15T08:20:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T08:20:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/605265\/"},"modified":"2026-04-15T08:20:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T08:20:08","slug":"frechette-ask-girard-to-help-with-cost-of-living","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/605265\/","title":{"rendered":"Fr\u00e9chette ask Girard to help with cost of living"},"content":{"rendered":"

QUEBEC \u2014 Premier-designate Christine Fr\u00e9chette<\/a> has handed Finance Minister Eric Girard the job of coming up with ways to ease the financial pressure on Quebecers, including compensation for high gas prices.<\/p>\n

Emerging from a meeting with Girard one day before she is to be sworn in as Quebec\u2019s 33rd premier<\/a>, Fr\u00e9chette said she has mandated Girard the job of detailing some of the ideas she floated in her leadership campaign.<\/p>\n

Among the affordability measures she proposed were dropping the Quebec sales tax on certain consumer products such as cooked meals or hygiene products in grocery stores.<\/p>\n

To help Quebecers cope with the soaring cost of gasoline, Fr\u00e9chette said she would return the additional tax revenues it collects off higher gas prices by reducing the cost of automobile registrations.<\/p>\n

And Quebec might start refunding the welcome tax for first-time homebuyers.<\/p>\n

But in handing Girard the job, Fr\u00e9chette seemed to give him more leeway. Girard has already expressed reservations about lowering the provincial excise tax on gasoline, but that was before the leadership race ended and before Ottawa stepped up.<\/p>\n

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Ottawa will suspend the excise fuel tax<\/a> on gasoline and diesel until Labour Day as the war in Iran pushes energy costs through the roof.<\/p>\n

While gas at the pump in Quebec recently hit $2 a litre<\/a>, the price of a grocery cart of food has risen by 22 per cent since 2022.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt a time where everything is more expensive, our responsibility is to ease the pressure on the wallets of Quebecers,\u201d Fr\u00e9chette said in a statement after their meeting. \u201cAnd that\u2019s what we are going to do \u2014 rapidly.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ce matin, j\u2019ai rencontr\u00e9 le ministre des Finances, Eric Girard. Je lui ai donn\u00e9 le mandat de me soumettre des propositions pour r\u00e9duire la pression sur le portefeuille des Qu\u00e9b\u00e9cois.<\/p>\n

D\u2019abord, je lui ai demand\u00e9 d\u2019identifier la voie la plus efficace pour retirer la taxe de vente\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/jRRIzEDTeV<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Christine Fr\u00e9chette (@CFrechette) April 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Some of the measures could come as early as this week. In his March budget, Girard included $250 million a year for the winner of the Coalition Avenir Qu\u00e9bec leadership race to move on some of their promises.<\/p>\n

Fr\u00e9chette Monday said there are no miracle solutions to soaring prices, but said a series of measures can only help.<\/p>\n

Fr\u00e9chette repeated her commitment to ease the pressure on Quebecers later in the day at a meeting with outgoing Premier Fran\u00e7ois Legault<\/a> where the two discussed the transition of power.<\/p>\n

She said she wanted to reassure Quebecers concerned about the tariff war with the United States and world conflicts that have intensified.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll this has concrete impact on the lives of people: the price of gas, the costs of groceries, the cost of living in general,\u201d Fr\u00e9chette said standing next to Legault in the hallway of the premier\u2019s office.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe live in a world that is more and more uncertain. If there is one thing I am certain of, it is that it\u2019s time to unite, to work together and above all not divide ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

She went on to blast her political rival parties: the Liberals and Parti Qu\u00e9b\u00e9cois which she said want to send Quebec back in time 30 years to the same old sterile debates.<\/p>\n

But Fr\u00e9chette continues to work on putting in place her new government. <\/p>\n

On Wednesday she will be sworn in at 4 p.m. in a ceremony at the legislature. She will then chair her first meeting of the CAQ caucus.<\/p>\n

Some time next week she will announce the names of her new cabinet. Speculation on that has already begun in the halls of power. <\/p>\n

Fr\u00e9chette has described the always complicated cabinet creation operation as the equivalent of \u201chigh-wire acrobatics.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fr\u00e9chette has been close-lipped about who will remain in the new cabinet but did drop a few hints Tuesday morning in an interview with 98.5 FM.<\/p>\n

Fr\u00e9chette confirmed her leadership rival Bernard Drainville<\/a> would be getting a \u201csignificant portfolio.\u201d <\/p>\n

Appeasing Drainville is essential if Fr\u00e9chette hopes to keep the CAQ united after the acrimonious leadership race. He represents the more nationalistic wing of the CAQ, which makes his presence essential.<\/p>\n

The two met face-to-face Monday evening.<\/p>\n

She also said she would find room for two pro-Drainville ministers: Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette and Health Minister Sonia B\u00e9langer. It is not clear they will have the same jobs.<\/p>\n

And questioned by host Patrick Lagac\u00e9 on the idea of recruiting a prestigious non-elected cabinet minister from the outside, Fr\u00e9chette said it could be a possibility.<\/p>\n

Her meeting with Legault late Tuesday was marked by emotion and nostalgia for both. Legault greeted her in the hall of the historic Honor\u00e9 Mercier building way with a bear hug.<\/p>\n

Eight years earlier, it was outgoing Liberal Premier Philippe Couillard who greeted Legault in exactly the same hallway spot.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am proud to pass the torch to Christine Fr\u00e9chette as the new premier of Quebec,\u201d Legault said as reporters listening in. \u201cThe first reason is because she\u2019s a woman. I have always noticed that, on average, women are more studious and rigorous.\u201d<\/p>\n

He went on to describe Fr\u00e9chette as a \u201cbrilliant, determined hard worker.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously when we leave our baby (the CAQ) it is always a bit worrisome,\u201d he added. \u201cBut I do not see a better person than Christine to assume the future of Quebec. Christine will be an excellent premier.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fr\u00e9chette also heaped praise on Legault, thanking him for all his years of public service.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can clearly say that you have Quebec in your heart,\u201d Fr\u00e9chette said.<\/p>\n

pauthier@postmedia.com<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\tEditor\u2019s Picks\t<\/p>\n

\t\t