Appointing Jean-François Roberge, who also holds the portfolios of the French Language and Canadian Relations, to the Ministry of Immigration is “a coherent choice” for the current CAQ government, which advocates identity and economic nationalism and is in the midst of a standoff with Ottawa. But Immigration is a real “monster,” requiring complex expertise that goes beyond language issues and labour shortages, say industry players. Is Mr. Roberge the man for the job?
“I’m not sure he’s very knowledgeable about all the immigration issues,” commented Stephan Reichhold, director of the Table de concertation des organismes au service des personnes réfugiées et immigrantes (TCRI), which represents more than 150 community organizations. He points out that, from a budgetary and employee-based perspective, francization is the area that occupies the most space within the Ministry of Immigration. “I imagine that’s what will be of particular interest [le ministre]. We’ll see. We’ll give the runner a chance.”
Mr. Reichhold is especially concerned that immigration will not get the attention it deserves. “He will be a part-time minister and, for us, that is always very handicapping,” he says. He cites as examples Christine Fréchette’s predecessors, including Jean Boulet, who was also Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Solidarity, and Nadine Girault, who was also responsible for International Relations and the Francophonie. “The biggest problem, we experienced it with Jean Boulet, is the absence of the minister.”
However, he said he was well served by Minister Fréchette, whose sole responsibility was immigration. “She had a good command of her files and, even if we didn’t always agree, it was possible to have good discussions with her,” said Mr. Reichhold. “I don’t know to what extent Mr. Roberge will listen, but we hope to have good relations with him.”
At the beginning of the year, Jean-François Roberge had raised the ire of many immigrants and people working in the field by declaring that the large number of asylum seekers was threatening services and could even compromise Quebec’s identity. Will he get a more lukewarm reception from the community? “It’s hard to say,” says Mr. Reichhold. “He modeled his speech on that of the Prime Minister. That will dampen his enthusiasm [en devenant] Minister of Immigration. He will understand that it is not in his best interest to make this type of remark.”
Immigration, “not a gift”
Assistant professor in the political science department at the Université de Montréal, Catherine Xhardez also notes that the outgoing minister had managed to skillfully steer the immigration files, to please the various “coalitions”, more economic or identity-based, making up the Coalition avenir Québec. “She had managed to gain the respect and trust of several groups and navigate between them. That’s the most difficult part. It’s going to be a challenge for the new minister,” says the researcher specializing in public policy and immigration.
The challenge will also be to gain the trust of front-line stakeholders. “When you become Minister of Immigration, you are confronted with all this complexity, it is so heterogeneous. There are many programs. Immigration is a monster. It is not a gift,” she notes. This is an opportunity for the new minister to immerse himself in the reality on the ground. “It is his challenge and at the same time an opportunity to be able to manage better, in synergy and in a more holistic way,” believes Ms. Xhardez.
And immigration is much more than francization. “To be able to negotiate, you have to know the programs and figures inside out, understand the agreements and remain competitive with the rest of Canada, and that also means understanding employers, management, the business community and understanding the problems on the ground in reception and the availability of services.”