Quebec “has long had the opportunity to raise its immigration thresholds,” repeated Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was asked again Wednesday morning about the reception capacity of the only French-speaking province.
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Unlike the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ) government, Mr. Trudeau sees no contradiction between protecting the French in the country and in Quebec and increasing immigration targets.
“We will continue to work with Quebec to ensure we have Francophone immigration. In terms of francophone immigration, too, we are likely to meet the targets for the first time [de 4,4 %] outside of Quebec. We will continue to protect French everywhere,” he said.
For him, immigration is primarily an economic issue.
“We know that we will create economic growth, build houses and meet the labor shortage with more immigrants,” he said in a crowd.
On Tuesday, Federal Immigration Secretary Sean Fraser unveiled a three-year immigration plan that envisages welcoming 500,000 new permanent residents to the country each year beginning in 2025.
If distributed proportionally, this would equate to 100,000 economic immigrants per year in Quebec, double its current target of 50,000.
“There was already a problem with 400,000, so even more with 500,000,” commented Prime Minister François Legault in the provincial capital. “We’re already having trouble stopping the decline of French at 50,000.”
“Really, Mr. Trudeau, Mr. Rodriguez and the people of Ottawa need to understand that we have a challenge here and that we want to remain French for the long term,” concluded François Legault.
Quebec Lieutenant in Ottawa Pablo Rodriguez pointed out in the morning that the new federal targets “represent an opportunity for Quebec because Quebec, like any other province, needs more workers.”
“Quebec already has the means if it wants to significantly increase its immigration, and that it is 100% French-speaking, that must not be forgotten,” he said.
However, Mr Rodriguez acknowledges that Quebec “has additional challenges because we are French speakers”.
“We have no children. The population does not renew itself. There is a labor shortage. There is part of the solution, not all, but part of the solution lies in immigration,” he said.
The heritage minister also confirmed that the federal government is providing $700 million for Quebec’s Frenchization efforts.