Premier François Legault says he’s can’t understand why the Bloc Québécois isn’t doing more to help Quebec.
He said what matters is the government’s overall “batting average” when it comes to economic development, which he said is pretty good.
Capping a tumultuous week which left his government on the defensive on several fronts, Legault fought back telling reporters that Ottawa may be saying it is making progress on Quebec’s demands to reduce the number of temporary immigrants but he has yet to see any results.
“I don’t understand why Mr. Blanchet didn’t request something, a move, a confirmation that Mr. Trudeau will reduce concretely the number of asylum seekers and temporary immigrants,” Legault told reporters arriving for question period.
“I think right now the top priority in discussions between Quebec and the federal government is to reduce the number of temporary immigrants. I ask him, Mr. Blanchet, again that before giving your confidence to the Trudeau government, demand a reduction by half of temporary immigrants.”
Legault went farther, saying he now wants all the parties to commit to Quebec’s demands.
“I expect all the parties in Ottawa make their confidence in the government of Mr. Trudeau conditional to Mr. Trudeau committing himself to reduce by half the number of temporary immigrants,” he said.
“I want to be clear, my only party allegiance is for the Quebec nation and I expect all the federal parties take a commitment to reduce by half the number of temporary immigrants. I ask this of all the federal parties.”
He repeated that he considers the issue central to the 2025 federal election and wants it to be the ballot box question.