After meeting Legault, Scheer not making any promises on immigration

But federal leader agrees province’s economic needs must be addressed

QUEBEC Federal Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer says the issue of banning religious symbols is a provincial matter, but his party believes in fundamental freedoms and would not go down the same path.

However, he remained vague on his positions on the immigration issue, the François Legault government’s plan to impose values tests on new arrivals and the possibility it will invoke the Constitution’s notwithstanding clause to override religious rights to ban symbols.

Asked if he — as prime minister — would agree to apply the Coalition Avenir Québec government’s plan to reduce Quebec’s immigration level from 52,000 a year to 40,000, Scheer made no promises.

“I listened to his explanations” was all Scheer would say following his first one-on-one meeting with Quebec’s new premier, François Legault. “We are working on our own immigration plan.”

Where Scheer and Legault seem to have found common ground is Legault’s idea of focusing immigration more on economic needs.

“It’s an issue,” Scheer said, adding he is not opposed to giving Quebec more powers in this domain. “It’s important to have an immigration system that focuses on our needs.”

As for the CAQ government’s plan to ban symbols for persons in authority such as judges, police officers and teachers, Scheer said in English: “I am not going to answer a hypothetical question about a bill that’s not before us.

“I respect provincial jurisdictions. We support freedom of expression, fundamental freedoms. It’s not something that we’re going to embark on federally.”

Scheer made the comments on his first official visit to Legault in Quebec City since the Oct. 1 provincial election. He met the media alone. There was no joint news conference with Legault.

Legault has already met Prime Minister Justin Trudeau but that encounter took place in Armenia, where the two leaders were attending the annual summit of francophone nations.

Later Thursday, at a separate event, Legault put a positive spin on Scheer’s comments despite them being non-committal.

“What I understand is Mr. Scheer is open to my proposals,” Legault said. “So I was very happy with our meetings.”

Questioned on his interpretation of the meeting, Legault revisited his comment, insisting he is not putting words in Scheer’s mouth.

“He didn’t say he agreed. He said he’s open to talking about it. That’s what I understood (from his remarks). He’s open to having a look at this.”

Scheer’s visit is strategic. His party holds eight out of 10 ridings in the Quebec City region, its only real foothold in the province. The federal election is Oct. 21, 2019.

Besides his meeting with Legault, he delivered a speech to the Lévis board of trade.

The Liberals, however, have a close eye on Scheer, who is on a three-day swing through the province. On the same day as Scheer arrived, Ottawa moved to take away some of his thunder by announcing plans to spend $7 billion in maintenance contracts for 12 Halifax class frigates.

Three work sites are in the plan, including the Davie shipyard in Lévis, which Scheer toured Thursday afternoon. It is unclear how much work Davie will get out of the package.

“It’s interesting that they chose today to make this announcement,” Scheer said during his brief Quebec City encounter with reporters. “We’ve been saying for some time that they have neglected the Davie shipyards.

“When it comes to support for Davie, it’s the Conservatives that have been there for the shipyards. I think they are showing that they are worried.”