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Quebec to get $13.1 billion for 2019-2020 in federal equalization

As 2019 unfolds the federal government unveils its plans for the new year, including billions of dollars in equalization payments to five provinces for the next year.
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Federal equalization payments to some provinces will amount to $78.7 billion for 2019-2020. (Lakes District News file photo)

As 2019 unfolds the federal government unveils its plans for the new year, including billions of dollars in equalization payments to five provinces for the next year.

The payments are a divisive subject, especially in western Canada, and most provinces that receive them are in the east.

READ MORE: Equalization payments are doing no good for Atlantic Canada

Equalization payments are among four types of financial support to provincial and territorial governments - including Canada Health Transfer, Canada Social Transfer and Territorial Formula Financing - “to assist them in the provision of programs and services,” according to a Department of Finance website.

British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador have not received equalization payments at least since 2010, a trend that will continue in the 2019-2020 period, according to Department of Finance data.

Ontario joins those four provinces for 2019-2020 and will not receive equalization, a first since 2010 for the country’s most populous province.

Its last equalization payment in 2018-2019 came to $963 million.

Quebec gets the highest amount, a consistent trend since 2010, and received $11.7 billion in 2018-2019.

Government data shows Quebec is expected to collect $13.1 billion in 2019-2020.

Manitoba will receive $2.2 billion, followed by New Brunswick and Nova Scotia with $2 billion, and Prince Edward Island with $419 million.

The total value of all kinds of transfers to territories and provinces will be $78.7 billion for 2019-2020.