Quebec removes provincial sales tax on select items July 15

Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette announced Monday that the province will remove the provincial sales tax from a range of grocery and pharmacy items beginning July 15, part of a package of measures aimed at easing cost of living pressures. The announcement was made in Sherbrooke, Quebec.

Products that will no longer be subject to the provincial sales tax include precut fruit and vegetables, granola bars, salted nuts, tissues and toilet paper. Fréchette also announced a one time reduction of 50 dollars for car registrations and a one time payment of between 100 and 200 dollars for low to middle income earners.

Fréchette, who became premier after winning the Coalition Avenir Quebec leadership, said the three measures together could save a family with two children nearly 350 dollars. She acknowledged that the cost of these initiatives will push spending well beyond the 250 million dollars annually that was allocated in the spring budget to fulfill her leadership campaign promises.

Finance Minister Eric Girard said the province’s financial position has improved in recent months, and that the cost of the new measures represents only a small fraction of overall government spending....