Michèle Vatz-Laaroussi chose to leave her native France 30 years ago to come teach in Estrie and study intercultural relations in the region. Now a retired professor emeritus at the University of Sherbrooke, she continues to invest in dissecting intolerance and knitting together life together throughout Quebec. Interview.
How can we ensure that immigrants who choose to settle outside major centers end up putting down roots?
They will integrate better into small or medium-sized towns compared to very small villages. There has to be a small ethnic or cultural network in which they can find themselves somewhat. They must have the chance to speak their original language from time to time or they must have access to a place of worship, if necessary, which is not too far away.
For example, there were quite a few Argentinians and Brazilians who came to Sherbrooke. They operated as a network and it was very effective for the regionalization of immigration. They often welcomed newcomers into their homes, helped them find accommodation, etc. They were not paid by the government to do this. It was in their own network.
Several of these Brazilians, at one point, left to settle in Quebec because they had landed jobs in ministries. On the other hand, they had lived here for several years and they had really created a bond of attachment. Those who wanted to come back were those who had managed to buy a house. When you are an immigrant, perhaps even more than when you are a native, home is a source of roots.
It seems like a prejudice, but is there more racism in the region?
There is racism in the region and there is some in Montreal. There are also some in Quebec. There are some in all countries and in all areas.
We could say that, perhaps, if we are less exposed in the region to diversity, to visible minorities in daily life, there will be more micro-aggressions than in big cities, where we are more familiar with differences. Which doesn’t mean that there aren’t any in big cities, far from it. All these microaggressions are painful for people in the communities to experience. They don’t react right away, because, well, they can’t react all the time. But they can be constantly asked where they are from, and sometimes also be told more serious things, like “go home if you are not happy”. It’s not open racism where we say: “No, he’s African, we don’t want him. » But, by looking at the name, we will scrutinize his CV under another eye, for example.
How can we make it a win-win for both the regions and the immigrants?
Immigrants have life plans. Even refugees have a plan when they arrive. They want to lead a better life, for themselves, for their children, etc. We cannot assume that they will integrate and then participate in our project. No. The answer is how we can have common projects while taking into account each other’s projects.
Information is also very important. The right information must circulate, so as not to give an idyllic vision of the region. We tend to give a portrait for tourists. Quality of life cannot be eaten in salads. If people arrive and they cannot find their place, whether economically or socially, even if there is a good quality of life, they will not benefit from it. We must provide as realistic a vision of the region as possible.
Temporary workers form the new large cohort of immigrants to Quebec. What could be improved for them, and for the host society?
Temporary workers have reception and integration needs. They’re not just there to work. They live here. If we want things to go well and for the local population to go well too, we must consider them like others, that they have the same rights through the different programs. Whether it’s francization for them or their spouses, whether it’s access to organizations, help, support, etc. It’s really major.
Otherwise, if we continue to consider them as separate by telling ourselves that they will leave again and that it does not matter, we will have a scenario like in France. For a long time, we had a workforce that we thought was temporary, which remained afterwards, but which was never able to integrate. This is creating really difficult divisions today.
What future for regional immigration?
Take my children as an example. They were not born here, but they arrived very small. They therefore lived and grew up in Sherbrooke. There are now two in Montreal and one in Dégelis [dans le Bas-Saint-Laurent]. I think we’re pretty much in the same mold as the people here. Those who are in Montreal perhaps won’t stay there, I don’t know. But immigrants are like everyone else. In the second generation, they are Quebecers, so they will do like other Quebecers. So, if Quebecers leave the regions to go to Montreal at some point in their lives, they will do so too. If there is a movement back to the regions, they will follow it too. They will follow the same trajectory.
This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
This report is supported by the Local Journalism Initiative, funded by the Government of Canada.