Premier François Legault is increasing pressure on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to fulfill a commitment to delegate additional authority over immigration to Quebec. Speaking at a news conference following an announcement regarding the establishment of a new national museum of history in Quebec’s capital, Legault dismissed Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon’s pessimistic view of Quebec’s future within the Canadian federation, questioning the leader’s nationalist credentials.
“While I respect the opinion of Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon, I must disagree,” Legault stated, emphasizing his belief that Quebec can work with the federal government to secure more autonomy in safeguarding its identity.
Legault proceeded to remind Trudeau of pledges made during a March 14 meeting in Montreal. According to Legault, Trudeau expressed willingness to address the challenges posed by the increasing number of temporary immigrants in Quebec, which currently stands at 560,000, placing significant strain on Quebec’s healthcare, education, and housing systems.
Following the meeting, Legault asserted that Trudeau showed receptiveness to exploring the expansion of immigration visas to additional countries, similar to recent measures aimed at limiting the influx of workers from Mexico to Canada.
Furthermore, Legault disclosed that Trudeau indicated openness to discussing Quebec’s involvement in the admission process for temporary workers, including the possibility of denying renewals for some individuals seeking to continue working in Quebec. The premier also noted Trudeau’s willingness to consider new regulations to ensure a greater proportion of temporary workers possess French language proficiency.