Ministère des Finances : 2002




Press releases 2002-2003 BUDGET An additional $3 billion in public-sector investments to support employment Québec City, November 1, 2001 — One of the highlights of the 2002-2003 Budget tabled today by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for the Economy and Finance Pauline Marois is undeniably the $3-billion acceleration of public-sector investments. "We have chosen to use this instrument because each dollar invested will rapidly create a major volume of activity while meeting Quebecers’ needs. In addition, as these are long-term investments, the cost will be amortized over several years", Ms. Marois explained. For health and education The Minister indicated that more than half of these investments will be in the health and education networks, as well as in housing. The health and social services network will receive an additional $500 million so that, in particular, residential and long-term care facilities can be built or renovated and a number of hospital emergency rooms can be refitted. These new investments will also be used to add equipment and to modernize information systems linking the various institutions. The education network will receive an additional $400 million to improve instructional premises and for the construction of schools, university buildings and new facilities for vocational and technical education. Added to this amount is a budget of $50 million for the construction of early childhood centres and $100 million for research, science and technology infrastructures. For housing The government will devote some $500 million to the construction of 13 000 affordable housing units and the renovation of 27 000 others. The bulk of this budget, i.e. $362 million, will be used to build new housing units. The remainder of the budget will support the renovation of housing units in older neighbourhoods and in rural areas. For the upgrading of roads and environmental quality The government is adding $400 million to the $1 billion already set aside for the road work in Québec provided for in 2002-2003. The implementation budget for the Montréal transportation management plan, the Capital nationale transportation plan and the program of intervention in the regions will be considerably increased. Furthermore, the 2002-2003 Budget sets aside $350 million for the new joint Québec-Municipalités program aimed mainly at drinking water treatment and distribution, wastewater treatment and improvement of municipal roads. In addition, the urban renewal framework program for dilapidated neighbourhoods, now applied in Montréal, will be extended to Québec as a whole. Culture and communications The government will invest an additional $100 million in cultural facilities. This budget will be used to build, renovate or improve cultural sites such as libraries, museums, performance halls and heritage buildings. Lastly, $100 million is earmarked for information technologies in order to improve government services for the public and to streamline administrative procedures. "If the additional $500 million in investments that government corporations will make are included, the government will inject into the Québec economy $3 billion in the short term. This action testifies to our government’s commitment to support the economy, preserve jobs and improve public services", Ms. Marois concluded. - 30 - Source: Nicole Bastien Press Officer Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for the Economy and Finance Tel.: (418) 643-5270 nicole.bastien@finances.gouv.qc.ca Back to press releases menu