The Quebec Liberals say the province’s towns and cities should be able to provide low-income home owners 65 years of age and older the option of postponing payment on part of their property tax payments so they can continue living at home.
Liberal opposition seniors’ critic Linda Caron, the MNA for de La Pinière riding, says most of the province’s senior citizens want to stay in their homes for as long as possible, and such a program would allow thousands of them to do so.
Staying at home
The Liberals are of the view that such a measure would help retired seniors better manage increases in the cost of living while being able to stay longer at home.
The proposal would allow low-income seniors who are homeowners to defer part of the payment of a property tax bill to when ownership of the home is transferred or the property is sold.
The proposal would also allow low-income homeowners in this age category to file a request with their respective town or city. The Liberals believe the program would provide senior citizens with some breathing space when they are faced with financial difficulties.
UMQ supports it
In eight other provinces, like-minded programs already exist, and the Union des municipalités du Québec (UMQ) has been asking for such an option for the past four years.
The City of Montreal has already adopted a motion unanimously, asking the Quebec government for permission to offer the program to its Montreal residents.
