François Legault has clearly identified the sensitive issue that links immigration and the future of French. Barring a surge in births, our demographic evolution is largely based on immigration. We will welcome many immigrants. If a significant proportion of them adopt the majority language of North America, there is an obvious danger for the future of French.
However, in his way of presenting the issues, François Legault must rethink his language. We cannot make each newcomer bear the burden of the future of a nation that he does not yet know. It is the collective rules that we give ourselves that must create the conditions for integration into French.
Human stories
When the Prime Minister describes the integration into French of a citizen of immigrant origin as anecdotal, he misses a great opportunity to highlight a success, to make it a model. Above all, it betrays a propensity to deal with immigration in a far too mechanical way: thresholds, rules, percentages.
Immigration is first and foremost a story of human lives. In search of a better future, a family decides to come and settle in a new and unknown land. People arrive with an immense mixture of worries and hopes, and try to make their place. Parents will always include in their story this wish to offer a better future to their children in this host country.
Quebec has a lot to offer newcomers. Schools, hospitals, public services and financial aid programs, everything is available from day one. And so it is.
In return, it is completely legitimate for the host society to establish its rules. This is what Bill 101 does by imposing schools in French and Bill 21 by setting rules on secularism. Bill 96 will add more concerning the need to communicate in French with the State.
These rules do not ruin a newcomer’s chances of succeeding in his life and career with us. The data published this week by the Institut du Québec show that economic integration is going better and better.
Hit
The unemployment rate for people with an immigrant background has fallen considerably over the past decade. And the wage gap between immigrants and so-called native workers has almost disappeared. Newcomers integrate more quickly into the labor market and earn a better living: this is excellent news.
The fact remains that in the culturally fragile position of Quebec, economic integration is not proof of everything. There is also linguistic integration. From this point of view, the Quebec government is right to demand more powers from Ottawa and to strengthen the Charter of the French language.
François Legault often recalls the sacred duty of every Premier of Quebec to protect French. He is right. At the same time, he must also remember his role as premier of all Quebecers. As such, he must have a unifying and positive language when he talks about the experience of Quebecers of immigrant origin.
