The ink on the new three-year immigration plan is not yet dry and it is already largely obsolete. What the Prime Minister of Quebec, François Legault, denounces in his letter to his federal counterpart, Justin Trudeau, regarding temporary residents, was predictable and anticipated during the public consultations on three-year planning last fall, ago less than six months. Many witnesses during the consultations highlighted this and asked that it be taken into account. But it was wasted effort.
Quebec faces an unprecedented demographic challenge. No study or government policy has really focused on developing a consistent roadmap. According to a recent study by the Fraser Institute, GDP per capita in Quebec could fall by nearly 13% by 2043 due to aging. This is a huge impact, and it is important to prepare for it.
The fault lines on immigration appear to be hardening as the political visions of the different parties are discordant. We have arrived at this point despite the fact that so much has never happened in immigration as in recent years in Quebec. This is proof that it is not enough to multiply actions with ad hoc changes to thresholds and programs. We will have to act collectively.
Quebec is one of the rare places to have held parliamentary consultations on “immigration thresholds” thanks to the commissions on three-year planning. We should congratulate ourselves on this. However, the current process needs to be improved, because it does not allow us to respond to new challenges. It simply allows the government to hear and dispose of the point of view of those it invites.
During public hearings, the “witnesses”, in turn, present their points of view and answer questions from members of the National Assembly sitting on the commission, including the minister responsible. These testimonies generally last one hour.
There is no discussion, no exchange between the various “witnesses” who often represent stakeholders in the reception and integration of permanent and temporary immigrants. This is the most rudimentary consultation formula, which is more akin to an exchange of information, which lasts a few days and ends when the government decides.
Social dialogue
Quebec can and deserves to do better. It is essential to establish a social dialogue on immigration, a “national conversation” with a view to mobilizing stakeholders within the framework of concerted, better orchestrated action, where the actions of the stakeholders mutually reinforce each other and give the best possible result. It is a formula that has already served Quebec well, at the heart of the “Quebec model” that needs to be reestablished.
The reception and integration of immigrants are the work of many actors and take place in varied environments, with different economic, social, demographic and linguistic needs and challenges. The government cannot act alone and it does not act alone anyway. The actors know it too.
Hearing from guests during a consultation will not be enough. Considering the strategic nature of the issue for Quebec, it is permanent consultation that Quebec needs in this matter, not a simple exchange of information nor a “forum” or “states general ” without tomorrow.
The situation calls for renewing the formula which greatly needs to be broadened and decentralized, to adopt an approach which does not accentuate divisions, but helps to build a shared vision and to promote a “national conversation”, a “dialogue social” and the emergence of consensus.
In this regard, the first condition for such a scenario to come true is for the government to display a firm political will in favor of such renewal, based on the establishment of a permanent social dialogue in the matter, because the consensus are not created in one or two weeks.
The government’s invitation to dialogue must be clear and come from the highest level. Because stakeholders will not mobilize if they do not feel that their points of view will be taken into account.