Quebec Premier François Legault is urging the Bloc Québécois to demand a 50% cut in the flow of temporary immigrants to Quebec in exchange for the survival of the Trudeau government. And he’s not the only one pushing for this, as the Parti Québécois suggests it’s doing the same thing behind the scenes.
“I expect that all parties in Ottawa will put their confidence in the Trudeau government conditional on Mr. Trudeau committing to reducing the number of temporary immigrants by half,” François Legault said at a press briefing Thursday.
The Prime Minister also said that he did not “understand” why the leader of the Bloc Québécois, Yves-François Blanchet, had instead associated his ultimatum to Ottawa with other issues (old age pensions and supply management).
“I ask Mr. Blanchet again: please, before giving your confidence to the Trudeau government, demand a reduction by half of the number of temporary immigrants.”
Something new by October 29
Earlier Thursday morning, the leader of the Parti Québécois, Paul St-Pierre-Plamondon, acknowledged that he had also discussed this with the leader of the Bloc Québécois.
While being careful not to attack Mr. Blanchet, the PQ leader suggested that his ally in Ottawa could make a move in this direction by the deadline. “We have until October 29, watch what happens next,” he repeated.
Asked whether he had asked the Bloc to put the issue of immigration on the agenda, Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon said that they “had discussed this subject and that it went without saying.”
Paul St-Pierre Plamondon said he wanted to “first” put pressure “not on the Bloc” but on “François Legault” himself to make the request.
These interventions stem from the statement by Prime Minister Legault last week, who called for the fall of the Trudeau government due to its so-called inaction on the temporary immigrant issue.
Mr. Legault then criticized the Parti Québécois and the Bloc for not putting enough pressure on this issue, a statement that was seen as support for Pierre Poilievre’s Conservative Party.
More details will follow.