Carney won’t rule out giving Alberta a Quebec-style immigration deal

Prime Minister Mark Carney has indicated that he is open to granting Alberta greater control over immigration, drawing parallels to Quebec's Quebec-style immigration deal from the early 1990s. In response to reporters' inquiries on Parliament Hill, Carney stated, "We'll see," when asked if Ottawa could reach an agreement with Alberta similar to the one with Quebec.

He emphasized that Quebec's distinctiveness stems from its culture and language, and reiterated that Ottawa would consult with other provinces regarding immigration levels. This stance followed Alberta's recent referendum where 53% of voters opted for more provincial authority in immigration policy to maintain "sustainable levels" of newcomers.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith disclosed that she had communicated Carney's government's intention to develop a proposal for federal consideration, drawing inspiration from Quebec's 1991 Canada-Quebec accord. Carney countered, stating that his administration has regained control over immigration and is actively listening to provinces.

Concurrently, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre criticized the Liberal government's immigration policies, arguing that provinces should have more autonomy over their intake numbers due to the services they must provide for newcomers. Immigration levels are slated for a review by next month, with Ottawa having previously lowered its targets for permanent resident admissions from 500,000 annually to 385,000 in 2024-2025.