André Fortin talks 2025/26 provincial budget

André Fortin talks 2025/26 provincial budget

With Quebec’s 2025/26 budget released last week, CHIP 101.9 spoke with Pontiac MNA André Fortin about its impact on the Pontiac and the region as a whole. The budget contains a record deficit of $13.6 billion, partially due to the impact of actions to counteract US tariffs, though the government said they’re aiming to balance the books by 2029/30.

“Budget 2025-2026 is presented in a period of turbulence that casts a shadow over our economy and public finances,” wrote Finance Minister Éric Girard in a statement. “We are preparing Québec to face the challenges posed by changes in its trade and diplomatic relations with the U.S. administration.”

Fortin highlighted the preservation of a subsidy for certain types of wood, which he said was good news for the local forestry industry.

He spoke about the government’s investments in the Outaouais region, which has been historically underfunded compared to other regions in Quebec.

Fortin said that the size of the deficit that the province is running is a concern to him, as the effects of these decisions are going to be felt by future generations.

The full interview with Fortin (10m) is available here.