Duceppe says banks and oil companies need to pay higher taxes

MONTREAL -- Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe is calling for higher taxes for banks and oil companies.

Speaking in Montreal today, Duceppe said these businesses do not contribute their fair share to the fiscal pie.

He stood in front of the Bank of Montreal's city headquarters to say revenues of financial institutions have continued to climb amid lower tax rates.

The Bloc says the tax rate for banks has dropped to 15 per cent from 20 per cent in 2007 and that it wants it to climb back to that level over three years.

Duceppe said raising the taxes of banks and oil companies will not lead to them fleeing Canada.

The Bloc is expected to outline the cost of its platform shortly.