Philippe Couillard promises to phase out health tax

Quebec Liberal Leader Philippe Couillardsays his government would put Quebec back on trackby using thebudgetsurplus projected for 2015-2016to reduce the provincial debt and cut taxes.

• Quebec Votes2014

Couillard unveiled his party's economic platform inBcancour, Que. on Tuesday.

Couillard, the self-branded politician of "real issues," said it's time for the truth to come out, and challenged Parti Qubcois Leader Pauline Marois to debate him on the state of Quebec's economy.

Couillard'schallenge comes just days before the leaders of Quebec's four main political parties will face off in a live debateon Thursdaystarting at 8 p.m. ET.

• Watch live: Quebec provincial leaders' debate

The time has come to put Quebec back on the path of prosperity ... its clear this will require focus,patience and concentration. Certainly not the time to take Quebec down the path of a referendum and separation, Couillard said.

The Liberal leader predicted his government would be able to obtain a surplus of$1,751 million by the 2015-2015 fiscal year. He said he would devote half of that money to payingoff the province's debtand the other half to reducing taxes.

In the budget tabled before the dissolution of the national assembly, the former PQ government said it would maintain its debt reduction objectives, maintaining its deposits to the Generations Fund in 2013-2014 and 2015-2016, and then increasing them in 2016-2017.

As of March31, 2013, Quebec's gross debt stood at $191,756million or53.6 per cent of the GDP.

• Parti Qubcois budget aimed at triggering election, opposition says

Couillardannounced a number of other initiatives on Monday, including:

• Gradually phasingout the health tax over four yearsstarting in 2016-2017.
• Increase the cost of public daycare fees by linking them to inflation.
• Reviewing government programs tocut$1.3 billion inspending over the nexttwo years.
• Increasingspending for healthand education ministries by 4 per cent and 3.5 per cent respectively, per year.
• Freeze spending for other ministries over the next five years.

Couillard also said a Liberal government would rein in government spending and create astanding committee under the purview of the Treasury Board to review government programs and review their management.