Finance Minister Eric Girard has announced the conversion of 5,000 unsubsidized daycare spots into subsidized spots. This measure will be included in the 2026-2027 Quebec budget, which the minister will present this Wednesday in Quebec City. Its cost is estimated at $400 million over five years. Given the deficit, Girard promised, during a press conference on Tuesday, a “frugal” and “responsible” budget, with a few “targeted measures.” “The situation is difficult in terms of the cost of living, (...) so this is a measure for families, to help them,” he told reporters, adding that it is also targeting homelessness and domestic violence. Girard also announced on Tuesday a $10,000 donation to the organizations Centre famille Haute-Ville de Québec and the Maison des Grands-Parents de Villeray in Montreal. When asked by reporters if he planned to help drivers, Girard replied without hesitation: “No.” He explained that it is not yet clear whether the surge in gas prices will be “temporary” or “persistent.” The two candidates for the CAQ leadership, Christine Fréchette and Bernard Drainville, have both pledged to put money back in drivers’ pockets. The new CAQ leader, who will become de facto premier, will be elected on April 12. The finance minister revealed on Tuesday that he has set aside a “fund” so that the next prime minister can make announcements after April 12. “Every budget includes provisions for contingencies, and in this case, we have provided for the possibility of a new leader and new measures that will be announced,” he said. - By Caroline Plante - This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on March 17, 2026.
