Proposed changes to Quebecs tax system to be released today

A highlyanticipated review of Quebecs tax system will be released today, only a week before Finance Minister Carlos Leito tables his budget.

Leito, who asked tax expert Luc Godbout to lead the review, hopes it will give the government ideas that will help it balance the books and decrease Quebecers"fiscal burden"referring to the amount of taxes people pay.

Many people wonder what Godbout, the head of Universit de Sherbrooke's taxation department, will say about the sales tax and whether he will recommend increasing or decreasing it.

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Leito says he will consider Godbouts suggestions.

"Im not ruling anything in or out."

Leito adds that his main motivation is reducing personal incomes tax and that increasing sales tax is one of many ways to finance that.

"I'm open to reducing personal income tax which is the most damageable inefficient way for a government to raise revenue,"he says.

The 600-page report could include measures that may be in next weeks budget, but the finance minister says he wants to consult with opposition parties and other stakeholders.

Leito says Godbouts report contains 71 recommendations on improving taxation in Quebec.