The Legault government is seriously considering raising the annual immigration thresholds by increasing the proportion of French-speaking newcomers. But this change of course does not pass like a letter to the post office in the ranks of the caquists.
In the spring of 2022, Minister Jean Boulet was forced to put the toothpaste back in the tube after describing as “reasonable” the proposal of demographer Marc Termote to gradually increase the number of newcomers to reach 58,000 per year.
Its leader François Legault hammered that it was “no more than 50,000 per year and it will stay like that in the coming years”.
During the election campaign afterwards, he even said that it would be “suicidal” for French Quebec to review the thresholds upwards.
But since then things have changed.
Last week, exchanges took place in the ministerial committees.
“There are varying opinions,” acknowledged a person familiar with those discussions.
Concerns are raised about the decline of French, the impact on the number of housing units to be created or the number of additional daycare places to be developed in an already difficult context.
Possible consensus
A consensus could emerge around an increase if, in return, measures guarantee a greater proportion of Francophones.
Immigration could then be seen as a lever to improve the French fact, and no longer as a problem.
“But the number remains significant, because of the issues related to the integration capacity. This is not an open bar, ”summarized another source involved.
In recent months, the Minister of Immigration has also been asked to establish the most detailed portrait possible of the current reception capacity in Quebec.
François Legault said in November that he aimed for economic immigrants selected by Quebec to be 100% French-speaking by 2026.
He has often pointed out that his government has increased the proportion of French-speaking immigrants from 50% to more than 80%, but during the pandemic the border was closed and this progress is linked to selection via the PEQ (program for students or temporary foreign workers).
Without new measures, this proportion would be expected to decrease.
Nothing prevents Quebec from increasing the share of immigration it controls to nearly 100% Francophones. While taking into account some exceptions for specialized labor needs, already raised by Pierre Fitzgibbon, for the field of artificial intelligence for example.
Tracks assessed
Among the tracks being assessed by Quebec is the possibility of granting a fast track to citizenship to foreign students who graduate from a program at a French-speaking institution.
Then, that of giving more points for knowledge of French in the evaluation of candidates for immigration.
Internally, other measures have been mentioned in the past, such as the possibility of requiring foreign students to have a level of French in order to obtain a diploma.
The document that will soon be presented by Minister Christine Fréchette will constitute the CAQ vision of immigration until 2026.
This will be an important moment in this parliamentary session, which will mark the continuation of Legault’s second term.
Quebec must not miss its shot.
There is a need to reconcile labor needs, low population growth, and above all, a risk that the French-speaking nation will be drowned in a Canada of 100 million inhabitants of which Justin Trudeau dreams.
in bulk
Should the salaries of elected officials be increased?
Former MPs Martin Ouellet and Lise Thériault will make their recommendations known next week for an increase in the remuneration of elected officials. Will this time be the right one, after unsuccessful attempts? The current basic allowance is $101,561.
Marc, he knocks again!
Recently met in parliament, the former elected Liberal from Chapleau Marc Carrière took part in the softball world cup in Italy last summer. He acted as both a pitcher and a power hitter. Like Major League Baseball star Shohei Ohtani…minus the paycheck!