(Montreal) While the Quebec government is asking the federal government to pay it 1 billion for asylum seekers, Quebec’s lieutenant in the Trudeau government, Pablo Rodriguez, invites it to discuss these questions at the right table, and not through the media.
And the Quebec Minister of Immigration, Christine Fréchette, responds point-for-tat that this table… simply does not exist, precisely.
While in Montreal on Wednesday, for a press conference on another subject, Minister Rodriguez added that even if Quebec “talks about sums owed”, he sees it rather as “sums requested” from the federal government.
“That is negotiated and discussed around the table, not through media releases,” Mr. Rodriguez replied to François Legault’s government.
Minister Fréchette was keen to respond quickly, in a written statement late in the afternoon. “If the federal government wishes to negotiate at a table, call it! We are more than available. We had several meetings with two ministries, with four ministries, it doesn’t matter the number, the result is the same. »
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, LA PRESS
Quebec Minister of Immigration, Christine Fréchette
But Ottawa defends itself. “For the current year, we are giving more than 750 million, 725 million last year, more than 700 million each year,” argued Federal Minister Rodriguez.
Quebec Minister Fréchette replied that this sum of 700 million, “is for the financing of the Canada-Quebec agreement which has nothing to do with the massive influx of asylum seekers which weighs on public services “.
The Legault government is demanding 1 billion, arguing that this is what it has cost it to welcome asylum seekers since 2021. The Quebec government complains of a lack of listening from the Canadian government.
“They are heard. We salute Quebec’s colossal effort. It is certain that Quebec is doing beyond its share,” said Minister Rodriguez.
“The time for discussions with Quebec is over. It’s time to take urgent action,” said Minister Fréchette.
“The federal government is completely out of touch. He must realize the reality in Quebec which is generated by the excessive arrival of asylum seekers,” added the Quebec minister.
And the Block
In Ottawa, the leader of the Bloc Québécois, Yves-François Blanchet, did not appreciate the tone of the Trudeau government, which does not seem to understand the urgency of the situation. “When the Quebec government says: “you owe me a billion dollars” and considers legal action, this is certainly not proof of great complicity or a hand-in-hand relationship” .
The Bloc leader criticizes the attitude of federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller. “A minister cannot avoid accountability. He must answer for his choices and then for his actions. So, I think that Mr. Miller, who is very contemptuous of the elected representatives of the House of Commons, will have to answer questions. Because they will tell us: “we are hand in hand with Quebec,” added Mr. Blanchet.