Promote local purchase to help border merchants

Elected officials from the various municipalities of Baie-des-Chaleurs. Meanwhile, on the border with New Brunswick, are working to help the shops affected by the differences in petrol price between the two provinces.

Since the abolition of carbon tax in all Canadian provinces except Quebec last April. Moreover, petrol is now much cheaper in New Brunswick.

Quebec service stations located on the border between the two provinces have therefore lost a good number of customers.

In order to help these companies remain afloat, the MRC Avignon launched an awareness campaign to stimulate local purchase.

Collectively, we can make the difference with our local purchases. Furthermore, Our companies have received a hard blow following the abolition of the carbon taxunderlines Nicole Lagacé. promote local purchase help border Nevertheless, pre -prefect deputy to the MRC Avignon.

Advertisements. Nevertheless, interviews with traders are disseminated in regional media to encourage people to buy in their municipality.

Behind these businesses, there are young entrepreneurs. In addition, These are jobs, these are people who stay with us, who give back to the community. It is important to encourage them.

Despite everything, she does not believe that abolishing carbon pricing in the province would be a good solution.

The MRC Avignon is very aware of climate change. We are not for the abolition of the carbon tax in Quebec necessarily. This is not on this that our discussions carriedshe explains.

Fuel sales always in free fall – Promote local purchase help border

Despite the efforts invested. the impacts are still very real for certain promote local purchase help border border merchants.

Fuel sales have dropped. It has been placed a little since. but it’s still drastic changes compared to sales from last yeardeplores the co -owner of the Garage Restigouche de Matapédia, André Mill.

He estimates that he has promote local purchase help border lost around 50 % of his traffic. when in April, when the carbon tax was abolished, it was rather around 70 %.

Even if he is not afraid for the closure of his business. André Mill stresses that jobs depend on the trading in petrol pumps.

Still no action from Quebec

Elected officials. players in economic developments were able to meet the Quebec Minister of Finance on this subject, with the aim of promoting measures that can help border businesses.

But until now, no measure has been implemented by Quebec.

Radio silence is the right word. On date, there is no change. We have no credit, we have no special prices because we are close to bordersdeplores André Mill.

This is an observation shared by the mayor of the municipality of Escminac, Bruce Waffer. He would have liked promote local purchase help border the government to be more proactive in setting up aid for border businesses.

The government has the last word. We do what we can. But decisions do not make in context the realities of the regionshe deplores.

The deputy for the Bonaventure district. Catherine Blouin, did not follow up on our request for an interview on this subject.