Ottawa would pay for migrants’ services: Legault
François Legault says newcomers to Quebec who become undocumented migrants after failing his party’s values and language tests will have access to services, but it’s the federal government, not Quebec, that will pay for them.
The Coalition Avenir Québec leader made the remarks during a news conference Friday after the Quebec Liberal Party again criticized Legault’s immigration policies. A CAQ government would reduce Quebec’s annual immigrant quota to 40,000 from roughly 50,000, and impose French and values tests on all would-be residents within three years.
Should an applicant fail, Legault has said, they would not obtain a selection certificate and could be expelled by the federal government.
The issue was first raised on Friday during an early morning radio interview on 98.5 FM, when Legault was pushed to explain how his immigration policy would work and whether it would create “undocumented” migrants by refusing to issue certificates to newcomers who fail the tests.
Legault said he would let the federal government decide what to do with people who fail the tests.
He was later asked to explain whether those people will have access to services while awaiting their fate.
“It’s the same problem we have right now,” Legault said, mentioning asylum seekers arriving in Quebec from Roxham Rd.
Asked if they’d have access to health services, Legault answered: “Yes, but like the other ones that are not citizens.”
And would he send the bill for the services to the federal government? “Yes,” he answered.
Legault’s remarks came after Liberal candidate Marc Tanguay showed up at the downtown Montreal hotel where the CAQ leader was scheduled to give a speech to the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal.
Outside the hotel, shortly before Legault’s speech, Tanguay said the CAQ’s policies are giving Quebec a negative image and creating a “second class of citizens without paperwork.”
Tanguay referenced a Washington Post story from Friday titled “Political party vying in Quebec election promises to kick out immigrants who fail ‘values test.’ ”
“It’s really bad publicity for Quebec,” Tanguay said. “Again, we heard on the radio Mr. Legault saying that he will continue with this very damaging approach by imposing values and language tests to newcomers here in Quebec, and that would be creating a second class of citizens.”
Asked if he was sent to the hotel by Liberal Leader Philippe Couillard, Tanguay said he was there by his own accord, but “speaking on behalf of the Quebec Liberal Party.”
Legault, for his part, called the Washington Post story a product of Couillard’s “fear campaign,” and said Tanguay’s impromptu visit to the hotel was evidence the Liberals are panicking.
“There are three days left, they see it’s not going well and they’re trying everything,” he said.
“I wonder if Philippe Couillard would appreciate us sending candidates to his events.”
In his speech to the Board of Trade, Legault focused on praising his party ’s candidates, and said the economy and education are his two priorities.
His prepared remarks made no mention of immigration.
Legault ended his day by heading toward the Eastern Townships, where he visited a vineyard in Dunham and a pizza shop in Magog.