Canada’s Quebec launching ‘values test’ for migrants

TORONTO: Just months after enacting a discriminatory ‘secularism’ law, the Canadian province of Quebec has introduced a “values” test for would-be newcomers. This examination will become part of the province's immigration process on January 1, 2020.

The announcement was made by the province's Coalition Avenir Quebec government. While granting of permanent residency remains under the federal Government, Quebec has the right,unique among all provinces, to provide a certificate of selection to applicants prior to allowing them to settle there. Now, economic immigrants will have to undergo the test before giving them the certificate needed for residency.

The provincial government has also indicated it wants to go further and wants the values test and French-language proficiency hard-wired into the federal immigration process for those wishing to settle in Quebec. This was the view of Quebec’s minister of immigration, Francization and Integration Simon Jolin-barrette, as he told reporters, “We will start again our discussions with the federal government once the new cabinet is named. We are confident we will reach an agreement with the federal government.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau may have emboldened nativists in Quebec, as he agreed with the provincial government’s demand for an evaluation of the knowledge of Quebec values. That came during a French-language debate before the federal elections , in which the ruling Liberal Party received a minority mandate.