QUEBEC - The Quebec government has introduced plans to lower the limit for political donations to $1,000.

Justice Minister Jean-Marc Fournier said Thursday that the change will be part of a major overhaul of election-financing laws in the province.

The Liberals hope to pass the changes before the national assembly breaks for winter recess in two weeks.

Fournier said the penalties for those who don't follow the new limit will be "very, very severe."

The current limit for donations is $3,000, while the Parti Quebecois has called for a $500-cap.

Fournier acknowledged that the Liberals have a higher number of donors in the $1,000 - $3,000 dollar range than other political parties.

He said they will adapt to the new rules, just as political parties did in 1977 when the $3,000-cap was introduced.

"People want us to change our way of dealing with those things, so that they can have confidence," he said.

"That is what we are doing."

Opposition parties have been pressuring the government to call a public inquiry into allegations of influence-peddling and collusion in the awarding of construction contracts. 

On Thursday, Sylvie Roy, the house leader for the Action democratique du Quebec, said the changes are a step in the right direction, and his party will vote to pass them into law.

- with files from The Canadian Press