Minister Dion Confirms that the Difference Between the October 2002 and the February 2003 Estimates of the Equalization Amounts Received by the Government of Quebec is Indeed $59 Million

MINISTER DION CONFIRMS THAT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE OCTOBER 2002 AND THE FEBRUARY 2003 ESTIMATES OF THE EQUALIZATION AMOUNTS RECEIVED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF QUEBEC IS INDEED $59 MILLION

OTTAWA, (ONTARIO), February 19, 2003 – Following statements made by the Quebec Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance, Economy and Research, Pauline Marois, on the subject of equalization, the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Stéphane Dion, highlighted that the October 2002 official estimates of equalization payments for Quebec indicated that it should receive $5.294 billion for 2000-01, $4.822 billion for 2001-02 and $4.678 billion for 2002-03.

Official estimates for February 2003 reveal that these are now $5.329 billion for 2000-01, $4.707 billion for 2001-02 and $4.699 billion for 2002-03.

For the three years in question, there is thus a downward revision of $59 million between the October 2002 estimates and those of February 2003.

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For information :

André Lamarre
Senior Advisor
Telephone: (613) 943-1838
Fax: (613) 943-5553

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