Dissatisfaction in Premier’s government at 77 per cent
Massive tax hikes in his spring budget are killing Quebec Premier Jean Charest’s poll numbers. A whopping 77 per cent of Quebecers disapprove of the Liberal leader, according to a poll conducted for Le Devoir, with only 21 per cent saying they’re very satisfied or satisfied with his government. “We’ve never seen anything like it,” said Christian Bourque, spokesperson for the firm that conducted the poll. On Sunday about 50,000 people rallied against the budget, which includes two increases to the provincial sales tax, a four cent increase in fuel tax, a $200 charge for health care and a $25 fee for doctors visits, amongst other increases. Rejean Pelletier, a political scientist at Laval University, says Charest has “in some ways, given up,” and that “he doesn’t seem interested anymore by Quebec politics and might be looking for a way out before the next election.”