Transit, home care and immigration dominate Day 3 of Quebec election
The debate over immigration came on the third day of the provincial election campaign, as Quebec’s party leaders fanned out across the province.
On the third day of Quebec's election campaign, the debate over immigration dominated discussions as Party Québécois (PQ) leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon unveiled his plan to slash temporary immigration in the province by more than half. His rivals accused him of blaming immigrants for strained public services and risking a labour shortage.
St-Pierre Plamondon asserted that current temporary immigration levels have exceeded the province's capacity to provide housing and services. He vowed to reduce temporary immigration from over 500,000 to between 200,000 and 250,000, while protecting sectors reliant on temporary workers such as agriculture, manufacturing, and health care.
The PQ also pledged to cut permanent immigration to 35,000 annually, down from the existing goal of 45,000. For temporary immigrants already in Quebec seeking permanent residency, the party would prioritize those already present over new arrivals from abroad. Meanwhile, Québec solidaire co-spokesperson Ruba Ghazal and Québec Liberal Leader Charles Milliard criticized the PQ's immigration proposal, arguing it would worsen the labour shortage and burden immigrant children with the consequences of underinvestment in public schools.
In response, CAQ Leader Christine Fréchette appealed to sovereigntist voters by proposing an additional $1 billion over four years to improve public transit, as well as a $23 billion investment over ten years to repair and expand transit infrastructure.
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