At a time when labor shortages are raging in Quebec, the Legault government’s decision to postpone its public consultation on immigration until next year is frustrating to the business community, accusing it of politicizing an important issue. for the safety of many businesses.
It is time to depoliticize this question and we will certainly not succeed in doing that in an electoral campaign.exclamation of the President and CEO of the Federation of Quebec Chambers of Commerce (FCCQ), Charles Milliard.
With its 2020-2022 immigration planning coming to an end, the government should have already held a consultation this year, so that interested groups can give their opinion on immigration limits, a burning issue in the news.
In 2019, this consultation lasted only four days of hearings to hear about thirty stakeholders. gold, in the context of this year’s electionthe government preferred to postpone this exercise to 2023.
Conducting a multi-year planning exercise, accompanied by public consultation with a parliamentary committee, represents the risk of not following the work schedule.explains via email the Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration.
Mr. did not hide. Billion is his frustration that the next forum where we will most likely actually debate immigration will be the provincial election campaign this fall, a prospect that is not good, according to him.
” I don’t think Quebeckers are winners from a discussion where we can make some shortcuts in the context of an election campaign, when it’s an important issue. “
A missed opportunity
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business also failed in this incident. This is a good opportunity to get stuck in a possible division on this issue.indicates vice-president for Quebec, François Vincent.
There has never been a time when conditions were more favorable for successful immigrant integration. Small and medium -sized businesses should refuse sales and contracts anywhere in Quebeche said.
” These consultations […] is related to making the best decisions for Quebec, for its economy and for the development of its unique society. “
On Thursday, the Minister of Immigration, Jean Boulet, hinted that it seemed to him within reason that Quebec can receive up to 58,000 immigrants a year, as recommended by experts, whereas previously, the Legault government spoke of a maximum of 50,000.
Mr. Boulet, however, specified that limitations will be determined after consultations who will have for sure will take place in 2023.
A few hours later, on Twitter, the minister made about the face. I was wrong and misunderstood […] Our reception and integration capacity is limited to 50,000 immigrantshe wrote.
Management through polls
By delaying consultation on immigration limits, the government is only showing it I don’t want to talkaccording to Me Maxime Lapointe, lawyer specializing in immigration law.
We’re at the end of our mandate, so it doesn’t seem like a priority for them to see what people around should think about immigration limits in Quebec.he believes.
Recently, the CAQ commissioned a survey, the results of which were disseminated by Quebec newspaper show that two out of three respondents do not want more than 50,000 immigrants per year in the province.
We have a government that governs by voting for four yearscriticism of Me Lapointe.
” This is the color of the government CAQ : we do not take into account the opinion of those who intervene every day in particular sectors of society. We go with our thinking. “
Conversely, lawyer Ho Sung Kim, who also specializes in immigration law, believes the postponement of the consultation does not cause too much trouble and is quite reasonable.
I think it’s still honorable that they don’t want to tie the newly elected government to their three-year plan.advance Me Kim.
Pedagogy
However, Me Lapointe believes the consultation is a good opportunity to explain to Quebecers how the immigration system really works.
It will be possible to show, in his view, that the limits of immigration is too low compared to current file inventories.
This is the main point: we need to explain to the population that the 50,000 we are entering are people who are already in the majority here.he continued.
People awaiting permanent residence, You can have people here in the territory, you can have the cashier on the corner, your banker, your paralegal in the lawyer’s office.cited Me Lapointe as an example.
Source: Radio-Canada
