François Legault needs to pick a lane on immigration

François Legault needs to pick a lane on immigration. Is Quebec welcoming, or threatened by refugees? 

Stating that migrants are a threat to Quebec’s language and identity is bigotry. Legault has built his political career off the backs of immigrants and refugees — by constantly implying that they won’t integrate into Québécois society. But the problem isn’t their inability to integrate, it’s that it’s not politically expedient for Legault to give them a chance.

If he wants the francophone population to grow, he needs to be open to different forms of immigration, not just the kind ultranationalists prefer. And if we need nurses, teachers and more French speakers, why not train the migrants?

The fact that our premier seems to believe that Justin Trudeau has the power to unilaterally grant Quebec control over immigration without discussing this constitutional issue with other provinces demonstrates Legault’s political immaturity.

Aujourd’hui, j’ai eu une rencontre avec le premier ministre du Canada, Justin Trudeau, à ma demande, pour parler d’immigration. On vit actuellement une situation inquiétante au Québec et il est urgent d’agir.

En deux ans, le nombre de demandeurs d’asile et d’immigrants… pic.twitter.com/QdpKlxBNye

— François Legault (@francoislegault) March 15, 2024

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