Viewpoint on the debt of the Quebec government
Update of this Viewpoint: March 31, 2010.
The economy is slowing down. Government revenues are falling, with less tax being collected, and spending is on the rise because of higher program costs. Can the Quebec government’s finances hold up without unduly raising the debt? To get an answer, we need to find out where the government’s debt stands. For mere mortals, this is no easy task. Direct debt, total debt, gross debt, net debt, public sector debt… To figure it all out, we looked into the Quebec government’s debt, not to pass judgment on its size but to come up with objective data that can help identify potential dangers.