What’s going to cost more in 2020 Groceries In its Housing Market Outlook, the Canada Based on recent reports from universities Mortgage and Housing Corp. forecasts the researchers, food prices are expected to rise average price of a home to be in the range of between two and four per cent. $506,200 to $531,000 in 2020. For the average family following Canada’s food CMHC predicts modest home price increases guide, that can translate into an additional $487 over next two years. Quebec market will show on food, increasing the average household total “relatively strong” gains. grocery bill to $12,667. Also a report from Rentals.ca forecast that The cost of meats is expected to increase most overall, rents in the Greater Montreal Area, dramatically — between four to six per cent — will increase by 4.8 per cent. while on the low end of the spectrum, bakery Gasoline items are poised to stay the same or rise by If you were hoping for a break on gas, 2020 two per cent. won’t be your year. Housing Consumers that aren’t actively paying attention If you plan on moving or buying a home, those for lower prices, are going to end up spending costs are also expected to rise. anywhere from $200 to $300 more per year. Taxes, rebates and fees: What’s changing in Quebec in 2020 he new year means changes for your tax system for public daycare will be retroactive The savings will depend on where you live. Hydro-Québec rebate Tbill and your bottom line. to the beginning of 2019. For instance, the owner of a home valued at Hydro rates will be frozen as of April 1, 2020, Armed with a hefty surplus, the Coalition The amount of money back will depend on the $270,000 in Montreal will save $179 a year by and the increases for the four following years Avenir Québec government is offering up a income of the parents. The rebate only applies 2021, while an owner of a home of the same will be limited to the rate of inflation. number of goodies for the coming year. to tax credits for subsidized daycares. value in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean will save You will also receive money if you were a Here’s a breakdown of what will be different It will mean an average savings of $1,100 for $500. Hydro account holder in 2018 or 2019. in Quebec in 2020, from taxes and rebates (and 140,000 families. Minimum wage going up Residential customers will receive an average fee increases too). Families of children with disabilities who of about $60, though the exact amount issued Quebec’s minimum wage will climb to $13.10 require special care will also receive an addi- to each customer will be known in January. Family allowance tional $652 per month. an hour on May 1 — an increase of 60 cents, Quebec’s new family allowance, available to Labour Minister Jean Boulet announced Less in school taxes Hospital parking capped those with one or more dependent children Wednesday. Service industry workers who Starting in the spring of 2020, hospital park- under 18, comes into effect in January, two years The CAQ government has committed to work for tips, such as bartenders and restaurant ing fees will be capped at around $7 to $10, earlier than originally promised. harmonizing school-tax rates across the prov- servers, will see their salaries rise by 40 cents depending on the region. The first two hours Families will receive, on average, an additional ince. The goal is to have a single rate by July per hour, to $10.45. will be free. Right now, in some places parking $779. 2021. The CAQ campaigned on a promise to fees cost more than $20 By then, homeowners across the province increase the minimum wage year over year, Single daycare fees will be paying a tax rate that equals the lowest working toward $15 per hour by 2023. The CAQ’s promised return to a single-fee effective rate in the province from 2018-2019. Thinking of selling your home? HUMANIA CENTRE Don’t miss this opportunity! % - 1.9% Commissions.* - Conditions apply. Limited time. (*If listed and sold by me) Excellent 1.9 Call me today for a FREE Service evaluation with no obligation. • 10 janvier / January 10, 2020 Exceptional Results 514.993.5010 SALES PRESIDENT’S GOLD ACHIEVEMENT AWARD AWARD 2010 2011 MASTER MASTER SALES SALES Nouvelles Parc-Extension News AWARD AWARD Kottaridis 2013 2016 • 2 VoulaReal Estate Broker Quebec Union of Municipalities turned 100 last year Group continues to lobby Quebec on behalf of towns and cities MARTIN C. BARRY They found a solution The conclusion the municipal representatives came to was that unday Dec. 15 was an historic day for elected officials in the creation of a common association was the right course to Shundreds of towns and cities across Quebec. take. It should be noted that around this same time several other UMQ’s 100th similarly-minded associations were also created, including the Union of Canadian Municipalities (UCM), dating from 1901. On that day a hundred years before, mayors and city council As well, most of the other provinces across Canada also saw members gathered for the first time to found the Union des associations of municipalities created within their boundaries Municipalités du Québec, an organization that has represented th towards the beginning of the 20 century. In Quebec, the the interests of municipalities across the province ever since. phenomenon was a little late to start. After some initial attempts On Dec. 15 1919, a special meeting took place at Montreal city in 1907 and in 1913, it was finally in 1918, following the end of hall during which more than 400 delegates agreed to form the World War I, that a definite move was finally made. UMQ. At the end of the 19th century, according to the UMQ, Quebec was in the midst of a tremendous period of social and Beginnings of the UMQ economic development. The first UMQ committee was formed by Télesphore-Damien Rapid urbanization Bouchard (Saint-Hyacinthe), Robert Ryan (Trois-Rivières), Rosaire Prieur (Pointe-aux-Trembles) and Frederick Wright Although rapid industrialization was accelerating the rate (editor of the Canadian Municipal Journal). It became official of urban development, this in turn was causing management the following year. problems within towns and cities that elected officials were The UMQ’s first annual convention, held Dec. 15 – 16 at having trouble dealing with. Montreal city hall, marked the official launch of the Union des And while the status of municipalities was officially established Municipalités de la province de Québec (as it was known then). within Quebec’s territory as early as 1855, it was only in 1867 that the newly-formed Canadian federal government granted UMQ’s first president the Province of Quebec jurisdiction over municipal affairs. In all, 400 delegates from all over Quebec voted unanimously Growing problems for the adoption of the resolution formally creating the UMQ. Joseph Beaubien, who was then mayor of the City of Outremont, But even if municipal governments were given a certain degree was elected as the UMQ’s first president. He remained in the of autonomy at that time, historians and academics today position for the next 29 years, which stands to this day as the acknowledge that the province’s towns and cities were still hardly longest term in office by a UMQ president. in a position to adequately deal with the socioeconomic problems The founding members of the UMQ established the basic they faced at the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th. orientations for the organization. Among these were the goals Around this time the outbreak of the First World War would to improve and facilitate the administration of municipalities. This page from a notarized document from the UMQ ar- further impact the economic difficulties being felt by munici- As well, the UMQ members decided the organization should chives dating from the early 20th century shows how the palities and the provincial government overseeing them. It was strive to bring all Quebec’s municipalities together so that they UMQ was established by the mayors and other elected offi- about then that voices began to be heard from leaders of the constitute a unified force to deal effectively with the provincial cials from several hundred towns and cities across Quebec municipalities, questioning what was then a provincial Liberal government. back then. government that seemed indifferent to the situation. Your snow blower may be hazardous Health Canada recalls more than 15,000 snow Des projets en tête throwers because of breaking wheel rims here have been 36 reports of lacerations and fractures in Canada as of Dec. 17 pour votre propriété ? TMore than 15,000 snow throwers have been recalled after Health Canada identified a risk of the wheel rims breaking if the tires are overinflated. Health Canada said in the recall alert posted that this can cause possible lacerations and fractures. The affected products are various models from Yardworks, Yard Machines, MTD Yard Machines and Troy-Bilt Series 2 Stage Snow Pictured is a YardWorks and Troy-Bilt Snow Consultation Throwers. A snow thrower uses its auger to Thrower model, one of the models being publique throw the snow, while a snow blower has an recalled by Health Canada. (Health Canada) additional fan that blows out the snow. 30 janvier, 19 h The recalled products are manufactured by which can be found on the rear frame. 405, av. Ogilvy MTD Products Ltd.