(Quebec) Pressed by its own French language commissioner to do more to Frenchify temporary immigration, Quebec once again turns to Ottawa and demands that it leave its “bubble” in order to better distribute applicants asylum across the country.
The Minister of Immigration, Christine Fréchette, as well as the Minister of the French Language, Jean-François Roberge, reacted Thursday to the publication of a report by Commissioner Benoît Dubreuil on the repercussions on French of the explosion in the number temporary foreign workers and asylum seekers in the province.
On Wednesday, Mr. Dubreuil recalled that temporary immigration increased from 86,065 people in 2016 to 528,034 in 2023. Of this number, up to 191,015 did not know French last year.
“From 2021 to 2023, the increase in temporary immigration would have led to an increase of approximately 1% in the predominant use of English at work,” explained the commissioner, who suggests that Quebec require knowledge basic oral French before arrival for temporary foreign workers and language requirements for foreign students who want to work off campus.
Mme Fréchette and Mr. Roberge cautiously welcomed Mr. Dubreuil’s recommendations. They stressed that the government wanted to first assess the impacts of its immigration reforms on French before adding new measures.
“The reduction in the number of asylum seekers, the distribution of the number of asylum seekers [et] the implementation of our measures will produce results [et] will be a game-changer,” said Mr. Roberge.
Asylum seekers
On the subject of asylum seekers, in the context where the Legault government repeats that the province is at a “tipping point”, Commissioner Dubreuil suggested negotiating a passageway with Ottawa so that Quebec only receives asylum seekers. refugees who have knowledge of French, and who are offered to the others that they be transported elsewhere in the country so that their file can be processed.
On this subject, Mme Fréchette recalled that the distribution of asylum seekers across Canada was urgent, but that it must also be done voluntarily.
“It is time for the federal government to come out of its bubble and see the consequences of too many asylum seekers arriving in Quebec,” said Mr.me Frechette.
On this point, Quebec benefits from the support of all the parties represented in Parliament. Both the opposition and the government reiterated Thursday that asylum seekers who arrive in the country through Quebec should not be forced to leave the province. However, they are demanding that Ottawa find routes to other provinces for those who indicate their interest in settling elsewhere than in Quebec, so that their transfer is facilitated.