The last few years have been trying in the face of the messages and visions expressed by the current government regarding immigration to Quebec. Just think of the reform of the Quebec experience program, the destruction of 18,000 files or even the reduction of immigration thresholds. However, during this time, we have never been so proud of our Quebecers of immigrant origin and their contribution to our society.
Posted yesterday at 4:00 p.m.
For example, on the cultural scene, we immediately think of Dany Laferrière, now a member of the French Academy, born in Haiti and landed in Montreal at the age of 23. We also think of the novelist Kim Thúy, born in Vietnam, who arrived in Montreal with the boat people at the age of 10. How can we forget the humorist and storyteller Boucar Diouf born in Senegal, or the comedians Adib Alkhalidey born in Morocco and Mehdi Bousaidan born in Algeria, or the singer-songwriter Manuel Tadros, the actor Mani Soleymanlou or the playwright Wajdi Mouawad, respectively born in Egypt, Iran and Lebanon. Let us also think of Sarahmée and her late brother Karim Ouellet, both born in Senegal, or Corneille, born in Germany.
These Quebecers make our culture vibrate, make it evolve, represent us everywhere on the planet and above all make us very proud.
Let us also think of the artificial intelligence researcher Yoshua Bengio, born in France, or the conductor of the Orchester symphonique de Montréal Rafael Payare, born in Venezuela, or the Olympic athlete Bruny Surin, born in Haiti. In the political arena, how can we forget Amir Khadir, born in Iran and arrived in Quebec at the age of 10, Lionel Carmant, born in Haiti, or Andrés Fontecilla, born in Chile and arrived in Quebec at 14 years old. How to ignore Ruba Ghazal, born in Lebanon, Carlos Leitão, born in Portugal, or Monsef Derraji, born in Morocco, or Maka Kotto, born in Cameroon. These Quebecers, agents of change, were all elected to the National Assembly of Quebec with the immense honor of representing us.
Once and for all, let’s put forward the priceless richness and all the pride that this diversity brings us and instead turn the debate to the incalculable benefits of immigration to Quebec. More than ever, let’s realize the strength and wealth that emanates from immigration to this great Quebec family. More than ever, let’s change course and discourse.