Trudeau Denies Quebec’s Request for Full Authority Over Immigration

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (R) and Quebec Premier François Legault chat while walking to a meeting in Montreal, on Dec. 20, 2022. The Canadian Press/Paul Chiasson

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has rejected Quebec’s request for full powers over immigration.

Mr. Trudeau revealed his decision at a March 15 press conference after meeting with Premier François Legault in Montreal. He said the province already enjoys sufficient immigration powers.

“No, we’re not going to change. Quebec has more powers over immigration than any other province as it is, because it is extremely important to protect French,” Mr. Trudeau told reporters. “It’s not a question of jurisdiction. It’s a question of finding solutions. That’s what I’m focusing on.”

While Mr. Trudeau acknowledged that higher levels of immigration were putting a strain on housing, health care, and education systems, he said the federal government and provinces needed to work together to solve those challenges.

“It’s not a question of who controls what. We are here to cooperate, to work well together,” he said. “People want us to meet the needs of Quebecers and all Canadians.”

Mr. Legault had told the national assembly prior to his meeting with the prime minister that he would push Ottawa to transfer all immigration powers to Quebec. Last year, the province took in a total of 160,651 asylum seekers, which was 55 percent of the 289,047 who resided in Canada.

“We have exceeded our reception capacity, we lack nurses, we lack teachers, we lack housing,” Mr. Legault said. “What I am asking Trudeau is to repatriate powers to Quebec to be able to defend what is essential for our nation and our identity.”

Canada’s population grew by more than a million people in 2022, which included more than 607,000 non-permanent residents and in excess of 437,000 immigrants. Ottawa has plans to admit approximately 500,000 new permanent residents every year until 2026.

Mr. Legault has said he will consider a “Plan B” if Ottawa refuses to transfer full immigration powers to the province.

“We’re going to evaluate our options. There are options on the table, and we’re already evaluating them,” he said.

While Mr. Legault’s Coalition Avenir Québec has demanded complete control over immigration as part of its platform since 2015, the party has not been successful.

The Parti Québécois has called for a referendum on the issue. Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon recently said that “there should be a referendum on getting all the powers on immigration.”

Quebec Requests $1 Billion

The Quebec government has also called on Ottawa to reimburse $1 billion, the amount the province claims to have spent on accommodating asylum seekers. The province said it spent $576.9 million on social supports for asylum seekers in 2023, in addition to $470 million in 2021 and 2022.

When asked about this money, Mr. Trudeau said he would be working with Quebec to “relieve them of some of the pressure,” and would discuss compensation figures at their working meeting.

During the press conference, the prime minister also highlighted “concrete measures” Ottawa had taken on asylum seekers and international students. He pointed to the deal Canada reached with the United States in 2023 to close the Roxham Road border crossing in Quebec by getting rid of a loophole in the 2004 Safe Third Country Agreement.

Mr. Trudeau also mentioned the government’s Feb. 29 decision to reinstate visas for air passengers from Mexico, which is estimated to save Canadian taxpayers around $660 million a year.