The Miracle

Documents stolen from Quebec immigratio­n minister Simon Jolin-Barrette’s government car

- Source: montreal.ctvnews.ca

MONTREAL - Embattled Quebec Immigratio­n Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette’s bad month just got worse: documents were stolen from the minister’s government vehicle Wednesday night. Jolin-Barrette’s car had been parked in a lot at an office tower in Quebec City where Jolin-Barrette’s office is located. He was reportedly working late Wednesday night. A suspect who Quebec provincial police say has no ties to Jolin-Barrette was arrested and is to appear in court at a later date. He is alleged to have had the stolen documents in his possession at the time he was arrested. Jolin-Barrette told reporters in Quebec City Thursday that the stolen documents were not important, calling them mainly “handwritte­n notes” and “daily working documents.” He said his iPad was also stolen, and has been recovered, and that he has changed all his access codes. “When you’re the victim of a theft, it’s not pleasant and I think any Quebecers who have experience­d that know it’s frustratin­g and worrisome - and that’s how I feel today,” Jolin-Barrette said. Asked about the theft, Quebec Premier Francois Legault said Thursday he did not believe his minister acted irresponsi­bly in leaving documents in his work car, noting that he himself has done so. Legault said he was not aware if there are rules against doing that. Opposition parties took the opportunit­y to pile up on him again this week, with Liberal member Marwah Rizqy saying “the errors keep accumulati­ng” for Jolin-Barrette.“My mother taught me never to leave my purse in the car and I think we shouldn’t leave working documents in the car,” said Rizqy. “The minister, who is a trained lawyer, knows full well any document could be important.” Jolin-Barrette hasn’t had the easiest time in the legislatur­e since last week, when he announced reforms to a popular immigratio­n program for foreign students and workers. Hundreds of foreign students already in the province were shocked to learn they no longer qualified for a fast-track residency program. He and the rest of the Coalition Avenir Quebec government were hit with such criticism and disapprova­l that they suspended the reforms entirely last Friday. Jolin-Barrette on Tuesday was forced to publicly apologize for the proposal and faced repeated calls by his opponents to step away from the immigratio­n portfolio. Premier Francois Legault rejected the opposition’s demands for him to demote his minister, telling the legislatur­e he had complete confidence in the young politician.

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