Quebec premier accused of stoking immigration fears, lacking empathy toward newcomers
Quebec’s premier is being accused of stoking fears about newcomers after he gave a current speech warning Quebec dangers turning into Louisiana if the province doesn’t have extra management over immigration.
François Legault instructed delegates at his celebration’s conference on the weekend that the survival of the Quebec nation trusted the federal authorities granting Quebec extra energy over who can immigrate to the province.
The premier even warned that Quebec risked changing into just like the state of Louisiana — previously below the management of France — the place solely a fraction of the inhabitants nonetheless speaks French.
His feedback sparked robust response from opposition events, who accused him of inventing a disaster and of suggesting immigrants are a menace.
Liberal chief Dominique Anglade mentioned the premier “lacked coronary heart” towards immigrants, whereas Québec solidaire spokesperson Manon Massé accused Legault of utilizing immigrants to distract folks from his authorities’s failures on points corresponding to housing and local weather change.
Masse mentioned greater than 90 per cent of Quebecers communicate French, in comparison with solely “a handful” of people that nonetheless do in Louisiana, and she or he questioned why the premier would evaluate the 2.
“Why would the premier try this, apart from to place ahead a menace that doesn’t exist?” she mentioned Tuesday.
“There’s no disaster right here in Quebec.”
Ruba Ghazal, Québec solidaire’s language critic, mentioned the province is enriched by the tens of 1000’s of newcomers who arrive every year, noting that her circle of relatives was the product of immigration greater than 30 years in the past.
“I’ve information for François Legault: my household and I should not a menace to the survival of Quebec.”
Legault mentioned in his speech that whereas Quebec has the suitable to pick about half of the 50,000 immigrants who settle within the province every year, the remaining are chosen by the federal authorities.
He mentioned federally chosen immigrants — refugees and folks within the household reunification stream — are a lot much less more likely to communicate French than these chosen by Quebec, who’re primarily financial immigrants.
He mentioned Ottawa should switch to Quebec the ability to pick immigrants within the household reunification stream in order that the province can higher shield the French language.
“I’m asking on the subsequent election for a powerful mandate to barter that with the federal authorities,” he instructed cheering supporters at his celebration’s annual conference, in Drummondville, Que.
“`It’s a query of survival for our nation.”
In Quebec Metropolis on Tuesday, Anglade accused Legault of missing empathy towards immigrants who need to reunite with their mother and father.
“He’s telling us that if there’s a lady who has been working in Quebec for 2 years and needs to convey her accomplice and son, that’s an assault on the survival of Quebec,” she mentioned.
Saul Polo, a Liberal legislature member who can be an immigrant, mentioned Legault’s feedback have been a shameless exaggeration that insulted Quebecers.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday appeared unwilling to think about transferring additional energy to Quebec.
“It’s sure a rustic has to have its say on its immigration,” he mentioned in Ottawa, including that jurisdiction is shared with Quebec to permit the province to prioritize francophone immigration.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed June 1, 2022.
