Quebec election: Legault apologizes for linking ‘violence’ and ‘extremism’ with immigration

Coalition Avenir Québec Chief François Legault has apologized after linking immigration with extremism and violence whereas on the provincial election marketing campaign path.

His remarks got here when he was talking to reporters in Victoriaville about what he described because the “challenges of integration” in Quebec and elsewhere on the eleventh day of the election marketing campaign Wednesday. Legault mentioned the “kind of society we would like,” the “values” of that society and “respect” should be thought of when welcoming newcomers.

“Quebecers are peaceable. They don’t wish to bicker, they don’t like extremists, they don’t like violence,” he mentioned when requested what kind of respect could be threatened.

“Now we have to make sure that we hold it the best way it’s proper now.”

READ MORE: Quebec get together leaders provide competing views on immigration amid labour scarcity

Legault shortly got here below hearth for his remarks by different provincial get together leaders. Quebec Liberal Chief Dominique Anglade accused him of making an attempt to divide Quebecers.

“If you happen to make a hyperlink between violence and immigration, I don’t assume that sends an excellent message,” she informed reporters in Laval.  “It’s a particularly harmful conflation.”

The CAQ chief later backtracked on his feedback and apologized on social media just a few hours later, saying that immigration is an asset to Quebec.

“Integration will all the time be a problem for a French-speaking nation in North America,” Legault wrote on Twitter. “I didn’t need to hyperlink immigration with violence. I’m sorry if my phrases have been complicated. My want is to unite.”

Québec solidaire co-spokesperson Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois weighed in on Legault’s apology on Twitter.

“I feel François Legault underestimates the impression his phrases have on folks’s lives. In politics, our phrases have penalties on the true world,” he wrote.

Earlier this week, Legault mentioned he would keep immigration targets round 50,000 per yr if he’s re-elected on Oct.3, which he mentioned finest matches the province’s “integration capability.” The CAQ chief believes that cap may also permit his authorities to safeguard the French language.

— with information from The Canadian Press