High stakes riding on Quebec budget

Quebec's Official Opposition is poised to vote against the Liberals' new budget and bring down the government unless its demands are met.

Quebec Finance Minister Monique Jrme-Forget will table the budget on Thursday the first one for the Liberal minority government since it squeaked back into power in the March election.

The Liberals are hoping to please opposition parties, Jrme-Forget said on Wednesday. "To have to do a budget as a minority government, puts additional pressure, and makes it even more stimulating in terms of reaching a consensus about the budget."

The budget is expected to deliver nearly $1 billion in tax cuts as promised during the election campaign, despite warnings from the opposition Action Dmocratique du Qubec, which said on Thursday it may not support the budget if it doesn't see significant spending control and measures to freeze debt growth.

The ADQ isn't opposed to granting income tax relief per se, but takes issue with the Liberal government's approach. "We are not denouncing tax cuts," said ADQ finance critic Gilles Taillon. "We're denouncing the way Mr. Charest wants to cut taxes. We want to have a balanced budget before cutting taxes."

Health Minister Philippe Couillard said the tax cuts won't prevent the Liberal government from spending in other areas. "We're not aiming for a drastic [tax] reduction just to make it closer to the Canadian average [tax bill]," he said.

Holding only 48 of 125 seats at the national assembly, the Quebec Liberals need either the ADQ or the Parti Qubcois to back the budget in order to preserve the government.

The PQ said it wants to see more education funding for students with special needs.