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Montreal Gazette
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Montreal Gazette
Drimonis: Children's book club is latest target of CAQ's identity politics
Books and public libraries were my gateways to other worlds as a child. It's understandable, then, why I'm such a fan of the TD Summer Reading Club, a national program involving 2,200 public libraries, celebrating local authors and inspiring children to read. The club is free, all materials and book lists are bilingual across Canada, and since 2008 it's worked hard to provide original French content. It was this club that Quebec Francization Minister Jean-François Roberge decided to criticize on social media for the simple reason that one of the many illustrations it uses to promote its cross-country activities features a girl in a hijab. 'Many Quebecers have expressed their discomfort with this poster for a book club held in a public library,' Roberge said on X last month, 'which depicts a young girl wearing a hijab. This type of poster does not promote the coexistence we want to promote in Quebec. The principles and foundations of the new law on integration into the Quebec nation must ultimately guide us to avoid this kind of blunder.' How many Quebecers 'expressed their discomfort,' we'll never know, but what 'blunder' is Roberge alluding to exactly? A little girl being interested in reading? Improving her French? Feeling like she belongs to a larger, inclusive Quebec? Making friends with other cultural communities? Or does Roberge only see a hijab? Some people's vision of vivre-ensemble appears limited to an 'ensemble' that only looks like them. In an effort to erase what the government considers undesirable from public spaces, the Coalition Avenir Québec is not above scapegoating children. I fail to see how that strengthens state secularism. Mouvement laïque québécois and the secular feminist organization Pour les droits des femmes du Québec shared their discomfort, noting the illustration depicts a minor wearing the hijab, not an adult with full agency. Yet the same groups and various pundits made no such distinction last year when they denounced an illustration of a woman in a hijab at Montreal City Hall's entrance, demanding the city remove it. The hijab is what ultimately bothered them. Disappointingly, the city caved. If organizers — receiving pressure to conform to the CAQ's limited vision of inclusion — simply pull the book club from Quebec, what would be accomplished other than depriving thousands of Quebec kids of a free reading program? Do Quebec's public libraries belong to all Quebecers or do they not? Only months ago, a Montreal public library told a writer trying to book a space to host his English book club that he couldn't, because Quebec's vague new language law was creating unnecessary confusion. Why are we making access to culture more difficult for some Quebecers? With the Legault government slashing school budgets and last year's reports of problems accessing francization courses, and with literacy rates lagging, one would think a francization minister would not only welcome outside assistance, but praise it. No such luck. Identity politics above everything else. Once again, the CAQ has chosen to single out a religious minority in order to showboat secularism. It's performative at best. While I don't support hijabs on children, neither do I believe that targeting those who wear them supports state secularism. It's just bullying. The CAQ says the book club's illustration 'does not promote the coexistence we want to promote in Quebec.' What kind of coexistence is that? The kind that marginalizes religious and cultural differences to such an extent that we can no longer even tolerate a mere illustration of a hijab for a free book club? The kind that selectively chooses to focus on some religious traditions while conveniently ignoring others? All young Quebecers — without qualifiers — should feel welcome in our public spaces and cultural institutions. That's the kind of coexistence I can get behind.
09-06-2025
- Business
Quebec floats cutting services for non-permanent residents
Quebec Immigration Minister Jean-François Roberge said he isn't ruling out the possibility of cutting services for non-permanent residents in the province if the federal government fails to halve its annual immigration targets. At a news conference on Thursday, Roberge presented a report outlining the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government's potential immigration targets for 2026-29. If we're forced to make difficult decisions, we'll make them. We're not at that point yet, and we don't want to get there Roberge said, underlining that the provincial government spent $500 million last year to support asylum seekers. He added that the state of public services in the province is unfair to Quebecers who pay taxes and are already struggling to see family doctors and find housing. The report (new window) describes three scenarios the government is considering to bring down the number of permanent residents from this year's target of 66,500. Thresholds could be lowered to 45,000, 35,000 or 25,000 over the next four years. Roberge said that the government would focus its non-permanent immigration reduction efforts in Montreal and Laval to facilitate newcomers settling in regional areas, where French is less threatened. He said it also intends to prioritize current non-permanent residents for permanent residency. Immigrants admitted through the Programme des travailleurs étrangers temporaires (PTET), which is currently suspended until Nov. 30, could decrease from 72,000 to 65,000 over the same period. The government could decrease the number of international students from 128,000 to 110,00 by 2029, according to the document. 'Disconnect' between immigration targets, business sector The CAQ government's proposed targets come on the heels of the Institut du Québec suggesting an increase in the number of new permanent residents to lessen the province's reliance on non-permanent residents. The report by the Institut du Québec, published on Wednesday, outlines several scenarios, including one that suggested raising permanent immigration levels in the province to up to 90,000. According to the institute's study, focusing on permanent immigration is preferable to temporary immigration since people who choose to settle permanently make a greater contribution to Quebec society and the economy. Véronique Proulx, president and executive director of the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec , said the ideas the CAQ government put forward today were surprising and disappointing. There's really a disconnect between what the government is proposing today and what the companies in the regions of Quebec, but also in Montreal and Laval, are asking for, Proulx said. The number one thing they're asking for is more immigration. Temporary immigration but permanent immigration as well. Arcelle Appolon, executive director of Maison d'Haïti in Montreal, said the government's immigration targets were not realistic simply because for the past couple of years, the thresholds have not been respected. Quebec is projected to accept 10,000 more (new window) permanent residents in 2025 than it planned because of immigrants who completed the Programme de l'expérience québécoise (PEQ). We are quite aware of the reality of what happens when people come and when we hear their stories, we see that the [government] narrative that is currently in place differs greatly from what they're telling us, she said. We do hope that the government chooses to re-evaluate their numbers and consider the experts' opinions on the topic. Public consultations on the CAQ government's immigration plans will take place in August. Holly Cabrera (new window) · CBC News with files from Cathy Senay, Radio-Canada's Jérôme Labbé and the Canadian Press
Montreal Gazette
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Montreal Gazette
Quebec adopts immigrant integration bill with model ‘distinct from Canadian multiculturalism'
Quebec Politics QUEBEC — Immigration Minister Jean-François Roberge conceded Wednesday that Quebec's new immigration integration law may discourage some people from wanting to move to the province. Immigrants scouting countries should be aware that if they choose to come to Quebec, they cannot expect to find the same multiculturalism model that exists in other provinces, Roberge said. That system, he said, has been relegated to the 'limbo of history where it belongs' with the adoption Wednesday of Bill 84, an act respecting national integration. The legislation was voted into law by a vote of 86 to 27, with the Liberals and Québec solidaire opposition parties voting against it. Presented in January, the law obliges the state, its ministries, cities, schools and even community organizations staging festivals that receive public financial assistance to participate fully in the integration of new arrivals. For their part, immigrants are expected to respect a social contract between them and Quebec — to adhere to and respect Quebec's democratic values, to have a knowledge of Quebec and learn the French language if they have not mastered it on arrival. The law states French is the official and common language of integration, Quebec culture is the common culture, women and men are equal, and Quebec is a secular state. 'I can't say how (immigrants) will react,' Roberge said at a news conference after the vote. 'We are changing the contract; we are changing the way we explain our way of life here. 'Maybe some people who never thought about living in Quebec will say, 'Wow, I want to go there, I want to go to Quebec because it reflects my values.' 'Some people may say the exact opposite, that this doesn't fit with me. 'Do I really want to come to Quebec? I have no intention of learning French, I have no interest in learning about a distinct culture.' We'll see.' Roberge refuted accusations levelled by some groups that appeared during hearings into the bill that the exercise is designed to assimilate the cultural identity of new arrivals. Quebec welcomes about 50,000 immigrants every year. 'This is not an assimilationist bill because we say Quebec's culture is our common culture, we are proud of that and we want people to adhere,' Roberge said. 'But we want them to contribute. This word is very important. We want newcomers, everyone in Quebec, to contribute. 'We don't want to just assimilate them and forget who they are. We want them to bring something new. This is a huge part of what it is to be a Quebecer. Quebecers are open-minded.' Immediately after the adoption of the law, Roberge presented a separate motion in the legislature stating Quebec possesses its own model of national integration that favours cohesion and 'opposes isolationism and communitarianism.' It adds that Quebec 'affirms its national model of integration is distinct from Canadian multiculturalism.' The motion was adopted unanimously. The bill was amended along the way during the clause-by-clause examination process by legislators. It still says Quebec culture is the common culture, but that culture is no longer the 'crucible' that enables all Quebecers to form a united nation. It now says Quebec culture is the 'base on which all Quebecers build a united nation.' Another amendment expands the list of organizations the policy applies to. Initially it was government ministries, municipalities, state agencies and professional orders. Added now are colleges, private schools receiving public funds, universities and public daycares. Under the terms of the law, all now become 'engines' in the welcoming and integration process, Roberge said. 'We're changing the narrative. We're changing the social contract,' he said. 'We are returning Canadian multiculturalism where it should have stayed — that is to say, in the limbo of history. It is a model that has always been harmful to Quebec.' Roberge said the details of how the rules will be applied in those institutions will be spelled out in a new integration policy book the government will present within 18 months after consultations. Another clause that would allow the government to withdraw funding to groups organizing festivals that don't respect the integration rules remains, but it's worded differently. It now says an organization that wants to obtain financing for a festival must ensure its request is 'compatible with national integration and its foundation.' 'No organization will see its current funding cut in the middle of the year, but once we will have clarified things, then the articles will be enacted,' Roberge said. There remains only one reference to respecting the institutions of the English-speaking community, and it is in the preamble of the bill. In February, Roberge tangled with Quebec English School Boards Association president Joe Ortona over that decision. Ortona called on the CAQ to give formal recognition to the distinct culture of Quebec's English-speaking community, but Roberge made no changes to the final legislation in that regard. Roberge said he was puzzled by the Liberal and QS opposition to the bill, noting the two parties co-operated in the legislative process. Quebec's Liberals adopted their own policy last October favouring interculturalism, which is the basis of Bill 84. 'I don't understand,' Roberge said. 'They are against the law but were in favour of the motion. It's worse than the mystery of the Caramilk bar.' This story was originally published May 28, 2025 at 4:40 PM.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Quebec floats cutting services for non-permanent residents
Quebec Immigration Minister Jean-François Roberge said he isn't ruling out the possibility of cutting services for non-permanent residents in the province if the federal government fails to halve its annual immigration targets. At a news conference on Thursday, Roberge presented a report outlining the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government's potential immigration targets for 2026-29. "If we're forced to make difficult decisions, we'll make them. We're not at that point yet, and we don't want to get there" Roberge said, underlining that the provincial government spent $500 million last year to support asylum seekers. He added that the state of public services in the province is "unfair" to Quebecers "who pay taxes" and are already struggling to see family doctors and find housing. The report describes three scenarios the government is considering to bring down the number of permanent residents from this year's target of 66,500. Thresholds could be lowered to 45,000, 35,000 or 25,000 over the next four years. Roberge said that the government would focus its non-permanent immigration reduction efforts in Montreal and Laval to facilitate newcomers settling in regional areas, where French is less threatened. He said it also intends to prioritize current non-permanent residents for permanent residency. Immigrants admitted through the Programme des travailleurs étrangers temporaires (PTET), which is currently suspended until Nov. 30, could decrease from 72,000 to 65,000 over the same period. The government could decrease the number of international students from 128,000 to 110,00 by 2029, according to the document. 'Disconnect' between immigration targets, business sector The CAQ government's proposed targets come on the heels of the Institut du Québec suggesting an increase in the number of new permanent residents to lessen the province's reliance on non-permanent residents. The report by the Institut du Québec, published on Wednesday, outlines several scenarios, including one that suggested raising permanent immigration levels in the province to up to 90,000. According to the institute's study, focusing on permanent immigration is preferable to temporary immigration since "people who choose to settle permanently make a greater contribution to Quebec society and the economy." Véronique Proulx, president and executive director of the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec, said the ideas the CAQ government put forward today were surprising and disappointing. "There's really a disconnect between what the government is proposing today and what the companies in the regions of Quebec, but also in Montreal and Laval, are asking for," Proulx said. "The number one thing they're asking for is more immigration. Temporary immigration but permanent immigration as well." Arcelle Appolon, executive director of Maison d'Haïti in Montreal, said the government's immigration targets were "not realistic simply because for the past couple of years, the thresholds have not been respected." Quebec is projected to accept 10,000 more permanent residents in 2025 than it planned because of immigrants who completed the Programme de l'expérience québécoise (PEQ). "We are quite aware of the reality of what happens when people come and when we hear their stories, we see that the [government] narrative that is currently in place differs greatly from what they're telling us," she said. "We do hope that the government chooses to re-evaluate their numbers and consider the experts' opinions on the topic." Public consultations on the CAQ government's immigration plans will take place in August.
Montreal Gazette
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Montreal Gazette
Drimonis: CAQ's vision of integration looks disconnected from reality
As part of the Coalition Avenir Québec's ever-growing list of policies aimed at dictating how new Quebecers should act, live and look, a new bill has been added to the mix. Bill 84 — ' an act respecting national integration ' — aims to define a Quebec integration model the government says will be 'distinct from Canadian multiculturalism.' While announcing the bill, Immigration, Francization and Integration Minister Jean-François Roberge gleefully stated multiculturalism has been relegated to the 'limbo of history.' All I can say is: Good luck with that. While it's true that multiculturalism — a policy enshrined in federal legislation in 1988 — is seen by some Quebecers as malicious and aiming to undermine the majority culture and the French language, it's ultimately also a sociological reality. Multiculturalism is the organic byproduct of a pluralistic society that contains multiple languages, ethnicities, faiths and cultures. You cannot have a country or province actively benefiting from immigration for centuries without naturally evolving into a place where a multitude of differences coexist. Neither can you have language policy actively forcing newcomers to send their kids to French school and then be blindsided when these now-French-speaking 'neo-Quebecers' also start influencing the province's majority culture with elements of theirs. One quick look at Montreal and so much of what makes it shine is precisely its diversity and plurality. We didn't become one of the most exciting cities in North America by dimming our light, by making ourselves identical, by intentionally stifling our creative, culinary and cultural differences and artificially removing what makes us different to appease an enforced vision of homogeneity. While the CAQ says Bill 84 was 'inspired by interculturalism,' that concept — like multiculturalism — allows room for a society where different cultures feel welcome to coexist and thrive. Does Roberge expect us to believe that is the intent of this bill or any other it has advanced relating to language, education and secularism? Or do the actions of this government point to a majority culture to which all others must conform? To be fair, the goal of a 'common society' isn't unique to Quebec. Setting aside questions of language, what the CAQ touts as 'Quebec values' are pretty much the same across Canada: respect for human rights, gender equality and adherence to the law. So while immigrants might be expected to retain markers of their culture, there's an equal expectation that they try to integrate and participate fully in Canadian society. In the end, immigrants' behaviour won't be dictated by some federal model of multiculturalism — and neither will it be defined by the CAQ's attempts to assimilate or remove elements of other cultures and languages. Maybe this government lacks a basic understanding of human psychology and behaviour. The overwhelming majority of immigrants — regardless of where they come from — work hard to integrate. But it's only natural that they also might continue to value and safeguard their mother tongue, culture and traditions. Just like a francophone Quebecer would if they were to emigrate elsewhere. You wouldn't amputate fundamental parts of who you are the minute you cross a border; to expect others to do so is not only absurd, it's also unworkable. Sure, the CAQ can make good on vaguely worded threats to withhold funding from cultural events that fall short of what the Quebec government deems such events should look like. But that won't stop newcomers with a plurality of identities from including other languages, cultures and traditions in their evolving version of what it means to be a Quebecer. A recent headline on the satire site The Beaverton says it all: 'Quebec passes bill requiring immigrants to not be different.' You know it's bad when satire starts to look like reality.
