Philippe Couillard finds "unfortunate" that Justin Trudeau has decided to ignore the unanimous voice expressed by the National Assembly calling for a single tax report administered by Quebec.
"What we want to do is simplify the lives of Quebeckers. I think that, on that, we should all agree, "responded the premier of Quebec, during a scrum of the press.
If Quebec taxpayers had only one tax report to produce, his administration should absolutely remain in the hands of the province, however insisted Mr. Couillard. If so, it would then be up to Revenu Québec to collect the federal tax.
Asked about it on Monday, Mr. Trudeau made it clear that it is not tomorrow the day before that the wish formulated by Quebec, with the adoption of a unanimous motion, will be granted.
"Leaving some of the federal responsibility to a province is not a decision to be made lightly. [...] This is not a step that is necessary at this point, "said Mr. Trudeau Monday, surprised that there was" unanimous in the National Assembly. "
Trudeau mocks Quebec officials, says Lisée
"Justin Trudeau, yesterday [Monday], laughed, he laughed, there, I'm not exaggerating, he laughed at our unanimous decision to ask for a single tax report," lamented the leader of the Parti Québécois, Jean-François Lisée, Tuesday.
"We strongly and strongly advocate for Quebec's interests," said Mr. Couillard. [...] For me, it's simple: it's about simplifying the lives of Quebeckers and maintaining Quebec's fiscal autonomy. "
Mr. Couillard also repeated that his Minister of Finance, Carlos Leitao, will soon communicate with his federal counterpart to relaunch discussions on this topic.
"We'll see later, but it takes a speaker to talk," warned Mr. Couillard, in front of the reporters.