PME who face rising costs, pandemic-related debt and labor shortages”,”text”:”This increase adds to the burden of our entrepreneurs and SMEs who are facing to rising costs, pandemic-related debt and labor shortages””>This increase adds to the burden on our contractors and our PME facing rising costs, pandemic-related debt and labor shortages
argues Mr. Tanguay in an interview with The Canadian Press.
PME“,”text”:”What we are very clearly asking is to cancel the increase for both individuals and SMEs””>We, what we are asking for very clearly, is to cancel the increase both for individuals and for PME
he adds.
The increases in hydroelectricity tariffs have been effective since Saturday. On February 15, the National Assembly adopted Bill 2, which allows, among other things, to cap the price indexation rate of Hydro-Québec’s domestic distribution rates at 3%. This cap does not apply to PME.
« I underline the inconsistency of the government which says: “For individuals it will be 3%, but PME will manage with inflation at 6.5%”. And that, we denounce. »
According to him, this will also have an impact on consumers and on inflation. PME are reduced to transferring their additional costs into their prices”,”text”:”Seventy-three percent of SMEs are reduced to transferring their additional costs into their prices”}}”>Seventy-three percent of PME are reduced to transferring their additional costs into their priceshe says.
Economy Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon opened the door on Friday to help for PME who will need it; nothing to convince the Liberal leader, however.
PME are exhausted and we see that the super Minister of the Economy, Pierre Fitzgibbon, is washing his hands of it”,”text”:”SMEs are at their end and we see that the super Minister of the Economy, Pierre Fitzgibbon , washes his hands of it””>THE PME are exhausted and we see that the super Minister of the Economy, Pierre Fitzgibbon, washes his hands of it
he says.
The increase is also criticized by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), which is calling on the government to cap the indexation of electricity rates at 3% for PME, as for households. There are fears that the tariff increase will weaken the economy at a time when many PME emerging from the pandemic.
Marc Tanguay reiterated that hydroelectricity rates should be frozen and the power to set future increases should be given back to the Régie de l’énergie du Québec.