Quebec Premier François Legault said he commends Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre for his stance allowing provinces more control on immigration, but unlike the 2021 election, he stopped short of endorsing a Tory leader for the election.
Legault said in a press conference on March 27 his two priorities are “identity” and “prosperity,” while noting his greatest concern revolves around immigration and the future of the French language.
The Quebec leader said the problem is not immigration in principle, noting Quebecers have “always been welcoming,” but rather the large number of newcomers in recent years. He said Ottawa “lost control” as the province saw the number of temporary immigrants grow from 200,000 to 400,000.
Legault said Quebec should have oversight of the temporary workers coming to the province through the International Mobility Program, which lets employers hire foreign temporary workers without a labour market impact assessment.
During a stop in Quebec City on March 26 where he unveiled his platform for the province, Poilievre said he would let Quebec select the temporary immigrants for the program, while Ottawa would still manage asylum seekers.
Legault said Poilievre’s pledge is a “great move in a good direction” and that he hopes other federal leaders will follow.
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Poilievre has criticized how immigration was managed under the Trudeau government and said the number of newcomers should be tied to the availability of housing and services. Liberal Leader Mark Carney said the revised caps put in place by his predecessor last year should remain in place until there is more housing.
Asked by reporters who he believes is better placed among the federal candidates to lead the country, Legault did not commit to an endorsement but saluted Poilievre’s stance on immigration, saying it would be a major win for Quebec.
While Legault said protecting the French language is a priority, he refrained from commenting on Carney’s French language skills.
Carney faced criticism in recent days from Poilievre and Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet for not agreeing to take part in a second French language debate on Quebec TV station TVA.
The two leaders suggested Carney was “afraid” to debate them. Carney responded he was “not hiding at all” and said he refused TVA’s invitation because the Green Party had not been invited. Leaders will face-off in French and English debates in mid-April.
‘Prosperity’
Legault said his second priority in the federal election is “prosperity” and wants Ottawa to help protect key economic sectors in Quebec. The premier also called for protecting supply management, which controls the production of dairy, eggs, and poultry, and for more investments in infrastructure, as well as respect for provincial jurisdiction.
On the issue of major projects, Legault said Ottawa should stop conducting its own environmental impact studies and respect the work done by provinces.
Reducing red tape has become a key theme in recent weeks as Canadian leaders look inward to boost the economy and diversify away from the United States.
Other premiers have also made such a request and Carney and Poilievre have also pledged to speed up approvals of major projects.
Carney said he would create a “one-window” approval process for large infrastructure and natural resources projects.
Poilievre has promised to create pre-permitted zones for developing such projects and said he would issue permits within six months to develop the critical minerals-rich area called the “Ring of Fire” in Northern Ontario.
Poilievre also pledged to strike Bill C-69, which created the federal impact assessment process. Carney would keep it in place but said the Impact Assessment Agency would have to complete its review of projects serving the national interest within two years instead of the current five years.
