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QUEBEC — The Couillard government has businesses and individuals “in its sights” as it aims to lighten the tax burden, according to Finance Minister Carlos Leitão.

Leitão referred to unspecified tax relief during an afternoon teleconference Friday about the government’s first-quarter budget results.

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Asked whether tax relief was in the cards for 2018-2019, the minister said simply, “We shall see.” Asked to be more precise, Leitão gave a few more hints, regarding small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs).

“It is important that businesses benefit from a competitive tax system, as well as individuals. Both are in our sights, but I really emphasize SMEs,” he said.

The Liberals promised in 2014 to devote half of the budget surplus to reducing the tax burden.

The monthly report of financial operations that the minister was commenting on indicates that Quebec has amassed a small surplus of $98 million in the first quarter of the 2017 fiscal year.