Press release
QFL’s reaction to the federal economic update
22 November 2023
Montréal, November 21, 2023. – The Quebec Federation of Labour (QFL) welcomes the federal economic update, which highlights the government’s efforts to help workers in eastern Quebec by extending unemployment benefits by up to four additional weeks for those working in seasonal industries.
“While we must recognize that the measure announced is positive, we expect a complete and full settlement of the issue of what we call the “black hole” of employment insurance for those in seasonal industries. For the QFL, this is long overdue, and all these workers must be allowed to live with dignity between two engagements while waiting for their sector to resume its activities,” declares QFL General Secretary, Denis Bolduc.
In terms of measures to support the middle class, the QFL would like to highlight in particular the decision to abolish GST charges on the construction of cooperative housing, while tightening through tax adjustments the rental of Airbnb-type accommodations to visiting tourists. This is a step in the right direction to tackle the housing crisis, although greater efforts in social housing construction could have been announced.
That being said, when inflation is skyrocketing, we would have liked to see a real roadmap for a universal, public drug plan. “As we all know, the cost of drugs continues to rise, to the point where families and seniors have to choose between paying their rent, their groceries or their medication. The decision to give more power to the Competition Bureau to fight against collusion and the often abusive price hikes practiced by certain companies is also noteworthy,” adds the General Secretary.
“The QFL understands that the government has taken the measure of the economic situation by refusing to give in to panic calls for a policy of austerity, which has hurt Quebec families so much in the past,” concludes Denis Bolduc.
The QFL, Quebec’s largest central labour body, represents more than 600,000 workers.
Source: QFL
For further information, please contact:
| Jean Laverdière | Cell: 514 893-7809 | jlaverdiere@ftq.qc.ca |