Legault Says Accepting More Than 50,000 Immigrants a Year ‘Suicidal’ for Quebec

Coalition Avenir du Quebec leader Francois Legault speaks to the media while campaigning in Montreal on Sept. 28, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Ryan Remiorz)

Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ) Leader Francois Legault says it would be “a bit suicidal” if Quebec accepts more than 50,000 immigrants to the province per year because it would be impossible to properly integrate newcomers and teach them French.

Legault made the comments during an event at the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal on Sept. 28 while speaking on labour shortages in the province.

When clarifying his statements before reporters later that day, Legault said the term “suicidal” used in that context is a French-language expression meant to describe something that is detrimental.

“It’s an expression in Quebec to say that if we increase the number of immigrants while French is in decline, it would be a bit suicidal for French,” Legault said.

“So I think that right now we cannot increase the 50,000 immigrants per year because it would mean that we will continue to see a decline in the percentage of Quebecers, and especially Montrealers that are speaking French, and I want to protect French.”

The CAQ leader was also pressed to respond to controversial comments made by incumbent immigration minister Jean Boulet last week when he said that 80 percent of immigrants to the province settle in Montreal and “don’t work, don’t speak French, or don’t adhere to the values of Quebec society.”

Boulet made the comments on Sept. 21 during a radio debate for candidates in the Trois-Rivières riding. He took to Twitter on the morning of Sept. 28, apologizing for expressing his thoughts poorly.

“The broadcast excerpt does not reflect what I think,” he said. “We must continue to focus on the reception, francization and integration of immigrants, which are an asset for Quebec.”

Legault commented on the controversy today, saying Boulet made a “serious error.”

“It’s unacceptable. I think in the fire of the exchanges, he said something that is not true. It’s not true what he said, and he understands that it’s not true.”

In an interview with LCN et à Radio-Canada on Sept. 28, Legault said Boulet’s comments “disqualified” him for the job of immigration minister but that he will be allowed to stay as a candidate.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.