Immigration | Trudeau accuses Legault of spreading falsehoods

(Montreal and Quebec) Visibly annoyed by François Legault’s inflammatory statements on immigration, Justin Trudeau dropped his gloves alongside French President Emmanuel Macron by accusing his counterpart of spreading falsehoods in addition to “politicizing” the stake.

The leader of the Liberal Party of Canada was called upon to react to the comments of the Prime Minister of Quebec after leaving a meeting with the French president on Thursday in the Old Port of Montreal.

“It’s distressing to see the Prime Minister of Quebec share statements on immigration that are downright false,” began the Prime Minister of Canada.

The federal government is “working hand in hand” with Quebec “to address immigration issues,” he said, listing several issues on which his government has acted, according to him.

Closure of Roxham Road, renegotiation of the safe third country agreement, reimposition of visas for Mexican nationals visiting the country, new limits on the number of international students: “we are working and we have worked with the government of Quebec on this issue that Mr. Legault seems to want to politicize at all costs.”

“We would appreciate having a plan from Mr. Legault to reduce the share of temporary immigration that they control,” he concluded by responding to François Legault’s request to the federal parties to commit to halve the number of these workers in Quebec.

These well-felt remarks from Justin Trudeau follow several statements from François Legault according to whom the question at the ballot box of the next federal elections must be the reduction in the number of temporary immigrants in Quebec.

Last week, the leader of the Coalition Avenir Québec even made it a necessary condition for obtaining his support in the next election.

Legault rectifies the situation

Earlier Thursday, however, he denied having supported Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre by asking the Bloc Québécois to bring down the Trudeau government. The conservative troops enjoy a large lead and would form a majority government if general elections were held today in the country, according to several polls.

“My only bias is for the Quebec nation, and I expect all federal parties to make commitments to reduce the number of temporary immigrants by half,” argued Mr. Legault. “There is no federal party that has made a commitment to halve the number of temporary immigrants. So, that’s what I’m asking them,” he said.

François Legault denies having gone too far in his resounding declarations last week. “I repeat the same thing,” he pleaded. And when he affirmed in the House that what Quebec “needs, in Ottawa, is an economic government,” he “was trying to make the connection with what the PQ was saying because the PQ is trying to find a way to ‘press [le chef du Bloc québécois] Yves-François Blanchet,” he explained on Thursday.

Yves-François Blanchet toughened his tone on Wednesday by putting a deadline on his support for the liberal troops. The Bloc leader is demanding the adoption of his bills on improving Old Age Security pension funds and protecting supply management by October 29, otherwise he could help bring down the minority government of Justin Trudeau.

However, none of its conditions target immigration, despite repeated requests from the Legault government which demands that Ottawa cut in half the number of temporary immigrants to Quebec. The Parti Québécois also makes it a central issue, and promises to present a “drastic reduction” plan this fall.

“There is a deadline of October 29, watch carefully what will happen over the next few weeks. It is not said that the Bloc will not follow up on the request,” suggested the PQ leader, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, when questioned about the Bloc strategy on Thursday.

Asked to clarify his statement, the PQ leader finally admitted to having “discussed” the issue with Mr. Blanchet, after Mr. Legault’s exit last week, so that he would place immigration on the agenda here. the deadline. “It goes without saying,” he clarified, adding that he “talks often” to Mr. Blanchet.

François Legault urged the Parti Québécois last Thursday to “be courageous” by asking its “brother party” to bring down the Trudeau government in which he no longer trusts to resolve immigration problems. Even today, the Prime Minister cannot explain why the Bloc Québécois is not making immigration a priority in its negotiations with the Liberals.

“Let’s get to the end of the reasoning,” continued Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon. “This morning, I officially ask the Prime Minister, François Legault, to have the courage to speak to his sidekick Pierre Poilievre, to ask him clearly: will you, yes or no, give us full powers in immigration? » If the Conservative leader accepted this, it “changes[rait] the discussion,” he said.