Live – Quebec election: 80% of immigrants ‘don’t work, don’t speak French or don’t adhere to Quebec values,’ CAQ minister says

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80% of immigrants ‘don’t work, don’t speak French or don’t adhere to Quebec values,’ CAQ minister says

The vast majority of immigrants to Quebec don’t work, don’t speak French or don’t adhere to Quebec values, an outgoing Coalition Avenir Québec minister says.

Jean Boulet, an incumbent CAQ MNA who is currently labour minister, made the statement at a radio debate for candidates in Trois-Rivières riding last week that was not widely reported.

The candidates were asked about immigration and the labour shortage.

“Eighty per cent of immigrants go to Montreal, do not work, do not speak French or do not adhere to the values of Quebec society,” Boulet said.

He said the solution is “regionalization and Francization,” meaning more immigrants should settle in Quebec regions and the province has to ensure immigrants speak French.

In the wake of a Le Devoir report on her previous anti-Islam statements, Lyne Jubinville, the Parti Québécois candidate in Laval’s Ste-Rose riding, has published a Facebook statement to “clarify and retract certain comments.”

“Islam is not us: we have nothing to do with it, we don’t know that!!!” she wrote on one occasion. Another time, she said she was offended to see “the hijabs invading more and more our public landscape”.

At one point, she wrote about “veiled women” on Ste-Catherine St. in Montreal: “Welcome home, people from other countries. But don’t count on us to build you mosques and let your muezzins announce the call to prayer in the middle of the street when our churches are for sale and our bells are increasingly silent.”

In her Facebook post after the Le Devoir story was published, Jubinville said: “I fully recognize the right of new Quebecers and of all Quebecers to believe in God and to go to the places of worship of their choice according to their religion. Although I am very critical of the effect of religions on women’s rights, I recognize that everyone in Quebec is entitled to their beliefs and therefore has the right to practice their religion.”

She added: “I also want to make it clear that my critical comments about religions apply to all religions and not one in particular. My critical mind is aimed at religious fundamentalism and not at one religion in particular. I recognize and have often affirmed that religious fundamentalism is found in all monotheistic religions. As I have published on several occasions, I believe that secularism and a healthy reserve regarding religion in the public space preserve the right of each religion to exist in social peace and tranquillity.”

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At the forefront of the Parti Québécois charge toward independence is Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, also known as PSPP, a youthful 45-year-old former lawyer who has promised since he was named leader in October 2020 the party’s focus would be on its foundational raison d’être.

Read our full profile, by René Bruemmer.

Opinion: In Quebec, transportation and the environment go hand in hand

François Legault may accuse Montrealers of interfering and “looking down on” the concerns of commuters from Lévis in questioning the need for a new multi-billion span. But the third link is a matter that affects all Quebecers. Whether it gets built and the form it takes may determine Quebec’s ability to reach even the most modest emissions reduction targets by 2030.

Read Allison Hanes’ full column.

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Read my previous live blogs here.

1. 

   Quebec election, Sept. 27: Sovereignty isn’t a priority but independence would be ‘viable,’ Legault says

2. 

   Quebec election, Sept. 26: High turnout in early voting a ‘good sign’ Quebecers want change, Duhaime says

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   Quebec election: What you need to know about the campaign and voting

4. Read Andy Riga’s previous live blogs