Report Suggests Lower Taxes and Flexible Regulation Could Have Prevented 140,000 Cases of Poverty in Quebec
Lower taxes and more flexible regulations in Quebec could have prevented 140,000 poverty cases in the province, according to a recent report.
By comparing Quebec’s fiscal and regulatory environment to Alberta using Statistics Canada data, the study authors concluded that adopting Alberta’s approach would have reduced poverty cases between 2013 and 2020.
It was also noted that persistent poverty, those experiencing poverty for eight years or more, would have halved with 107,000 Quebecers avoiding it. The actual poverty rate in Quebec during the specified time frame was 223,440 individuals.
Mr. Geloso and report co-author James Dean suggest that governments focus on eliminating the obstacles that contribute to poverty rather than just providing financial aid.
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They elaborated, “Eliminating these barriers, by increasing economic freedom, would empower the poor in ways that require minimal government expenditure.”
Mr. Geloso and Mr. Dean suggested that regulations should be more adaptable across industries and highlighted that all levels of government introduce competition barriers, hindering productivity growth. The report’s third policy recommendation focuses on municipal housing regulations.
They wrote, “Cities offer significant upward mobility opportunities by providi…
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