Canada does not intend to cede other immigration powers to Quebec, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reaffirmed on Tuesday.
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“A country must continue to have a say in its immigration,” the Liberal leader said during a speech in Ottawa.
The latter was responding to the nationalist flavored speech given on Sunday by Quebec Premier François Legault in which he demanded more powers in immigration.
Currently, nearly half of immigrants (43%) who settle in Quebec have been chosen by the federal government. The caquiste fears in particular that the arrival of non-francophone immigrants contributes to the disappearance of the French language in the province. “It’s a question of survival for the Quebec nation,” said Mr. Legault on Sunday.
However, the federal government seems to be maintaining its position, according to the speech delivered by the Canadian Prime Minister on Tuesday. “We are happy to be able to share this responsibility in the case of Quebec because the protection of French and Francophone immigration is important to us,” replied Trudeau.
“I think we will always continue to seek to work in a positive way in partnership with the provinces. This is my approach and I will continue to take it,” he reaffirmed.
