With the new year just days away, here is a look at some of the changes that are in store for Quebecers in 2025.
In November, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) updated the federal income tax brackets to reflect adjustments for inflation. While federal tax rates remain the same, the income thresholds for each bracket have shifted.
Here are the federal income tax brackets for the upcoming year
- Incomes of $57,375 or less tax bracket will be taxed at 15 per cent.
- Incomes between the $57,375.01 to $114,750 tax bracket will be taxed at 20.5 per cent.
- Incomes between the $114,750.01 to $177,882 tax bracket will be taxed at 26 per cent.
- Incomes between the $177,882.01 to $253,414 tax bracket will be taxed at 29 per cent.
- Incomes above $253,414.01 will be taxed at 33 per cent.
Here are the provincial income tax rates for the upcoming year
- Income of $53,255 or less will be taxed at 14 per cent.
- Income between $53,255.01 and $106,495 will be taxed at 19 per cent.
- Income between $106,495.01 and $129,590 will be taxed at 24 per cent.
- Income above $129,590.01 will be taxed at 25.75 per cent.
No doctor’s note needed for the first three days of illness
With the adoption of Bill 68 in October, employers can no longer require a medical certificate for an employee’s first three absences due to illness, each lasting three consecutive days or fewer, within a year.
Since the fall, students in the province no longer need to provide a medical certificate when absent due to illness for fewer than five days.
Public daycare prices increasing
Parents beware as of Jan. 1, 2025, the daily rate for subsidized childcare services will increase from $9.10 to $9.35.
Electric vehicle subsidies to be suspended
Drivers looking to take advantage of the “Go Green” (Roulez vert) subsidy program to purchase an electric vehicle must do so in January, as the program will be temporarily suspended starting Feb. 1. The government cited “significant” demand as the reason for the pause. The program is set to resume in April after the next provincial budget, but it will be scaled back across the board until its termination in 2026.
WATCH: What is the state of the EV revolution?
Vehicle registration rates will significantly increase
In May, the Montreal metropolitan community (CMM) announced that the vehicle registration rate would increase to $150 to fund public transportation in Montreal. The current rate stands at a much lower $59. In total, 82 municipalities will be affected by the hike.
New recycling system coming
In the new year, Quebec will roll out a new curbside recycling system, expanding the list of items households can dispose of in their bins. Starting in January, Éco Entreprises Québec (ÉEQ) will officially take over as the management body for selective collection for the next five years.
What you can put in your bin
Containers, flexible or rigid, made of paper, cardboard, glass, plastic, or metal (e.g., shampoo bottles)
Packaging made of paper, cardboard, glass, plastic, or metal (e.g., chip bags, egg cartons, food film, etc.)
Printed matter, including paper and cardboard with text, patterns, or images (e.g., newspapers, magazines, etc.)
What you can’t put in your bin
Pressurized metal containers (e.g., aerosols)
Protective packaging made of expanded polystyrene (e.g., styrofoam)
Biodegradable or degradable plastics
Pension increase of 2.6% as of January
In November, Retraite Québec announced that several pensions would increase by 2.6 per cent starting in January. The increase will apply to retirement, disability, surviving spouse, disabled contributor’s child, and orphan’s pensions. Moreover, a new measure will also ensure that seniors with disabilities will no longer see their retirement pension decrease once they turn 65.
