One of the two “scenarios” of permanent immigration thresholds for 2024-2027 adopted by Prime Minister François Legault is surprising to voters worried about the “slightly suicidal” prospect of welcoming more than 50,000 economic immigrants per year or even the “Louisianization” of a Quebec that does not hold all the powers of selection of immigrants.
After warning voters of the dangers of raising the immigration threshold, the leader of the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ) said he was ready on Thursday to welcome more than 60,000 permanent immigrants a year — an increase of 20% — provided that those selected by Quebec are almost all fluent in French.
“I expect to get the question: ‘Mr. Legault, you said [que] over 50,000 [immigrants permanents par année], that would be suicidal.” Well, that would be suicidal for the future of French. But from the moment we are able — and then there is a real openness on the part of the federal government — to say [que] the increase is only French speakers or people who are fluent in French, it completely changes the situation, ”he said during a press conference in the Evelyn-Dumas room of parliament, Thursday after -noon.
Although stripped of its plexiglass panels, the stage was reminiscent of the daily press briefings, at 1 p.m. and dusts, on the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Prime Minister even “launched an appeal to Quebecers” with “together” and “we are capable”, as he did when the coronavirus was causing disorder. “All Quebecers have a duty to protect French, and I am convinced that together, we are able to reverse the trend and then ensure that our children and then our grandchildren continue to live in Quebec in French,” said he affirmed solemnly, seated between the ministers Christine Fréchette (Immigration, Francisation and Integration) and Jean-François Roberge (French language).
Immigrants can contribute to the development of the French language in Quebec, he said.
The holder of the Research Chair in Immigration Policy at Concordia University, Mireille Paquet, observed a “certain change in tone” on the part of François Legault – even if, fixed at 60,000 immigrants in 2027, ” the thresholds would still remain low if we compare them to what is done in the rest of Canada” -, but especially his “desire to reframe the action of the CAQ in terms of immigration”, which the opposition accuses of to have lost control of temporary immigration.
That said, “the discourse” of the caquistes in government is very “different” from that which they repeat during the election campaign. “The CAQ is very strategic. If, during an election period, they consider that they can win electoral segments by mobilizing the immigration issue, they will do so. But during a period of governance, the reality is that they must not manage the voters, but the stakeholders,” notes Mireille Paquet.
“In three years, they will always be able, during the election period, to start again with speeches [du type] “immigration, a danger…”” adds the Concordia University professor, while recalling that “the CAQ has risen” in opinion polls “by really finding the best divisions to mobilize in the population. “. “It’s a brokerage party, that is to say it’s not a party that has a clear ideology,” she underlines.
By giving his support to “a prudent and gradual increase in the thresholds over the next four years” – expression of Christine Fréchette –, will François Legault contribute to defusing the political charge of the theme of immigration a little?
“Hard to say,” replies Martin Papillon, professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Montreal. “Legault is partly responsible for the current escalation, but he is not the only one. These questions will certainly continue to be mobilized and debated. This is here to stay, in my view, because the partisan and ideological realignment on these issues is strong, ”he continues.
The director of the Center for Research on Policy and Social Development believes that “the right thing to do” is to “calm things down” by handling a political discourse linking identity and immigration, but without “associating[r] any form of immigration to an existential danger for the nation”.
Finally, the CAQ “cannot afford to leave the PQ free on this ‘identity’ question”, he adds, describing Paul St-Pierre Plamondon’s Parti Québécois (PQ) as the “main — and only — opponent that can inflict election damage” to the CAQ for now.