A meeting between the prime minister and Quebec’s premier ended in a $750 million funding commitment from Ottawa.
Yet Premier François Legault said that wasn’t enough support to address the growing burden placed on the province by the federal government’s refugee and immigration policy.
Legault and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau convened at the Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City to deliberate on the province’s escalating needs amidst a surge in temporary immigrants.
The discussions, however, concluded with Legault leaving disappointed. The premier had hoped for a more substantial federal commitment to address the financial and social implications of the influx.
“The federal government must substantially and rapidly reduce the number of temporary immigrants,” said Legault, calling on the Trudeau to move “quickly.”
The federal government’s offer of $750 million, while significant, fell short of the $1 billion requested by Quebec to manage the costs incurred from 2021 to 2023.
Moreover, Quebec called for a 50% reduction in asylum seekers and International Mobility Program workers within a year. Legault has threatened to take the issue to a referendum on immigration, should the province’s needs not be met.
The staggering increase of temporary immigrants in Quebec, from just over 100,000 to 560,000 in under five years, has placed an unprecedented strain on the province’s infrastructure and public services.
Quebec has estimated a future need for 200,000 additional housing units, 11,000 more nurses, and 3,700 extra teachers to meet the influx of population.
The federal budget already allocated $744 million for 2024 to address processing delays at the Immigration and Refugee Board.
Trudeau acknowledged Quebec’s concerns and emphasized that immigration was a shared responsibility between the federal government and the province.
“Some of the concerns that Quebec has and if they want to do more well we need to do it together because Quebec and the federal government share responsibility for immigration in this province – and therefore we’re looking forward to hearing (Quebec’s) specific goals and what sectors he will be reducing, or adjusting the numbers in before we know what that’s going to look like in the coming months,” said Trudeau.
Additionally, he agreed to expedite asylum-seeker claims and collaborate with other provinces to redistribute refugees. Also, Trudeau acknowledged Quebec’s request that newcomers be proficient in French in accordance with Quebec’s cultural preservation goals.
Legault and Trudeau pledged to meet and discuss the issue again in the fall.
