The election of Donald Trump generates numerous concerns among the entire population of Quebec and the West in general: access to abortion, the role of the United States on the international scene, particularly in Ukraine, the risk of a return to protectionism and several others.
However, yesterday we witnessed a fixation from our Prime Minister on immigration. Rather than addressing more specifically fears about the social rights of Americans, risks for Northvolt and several other possibilities, the Prime Minister of Quebec preferred to fan the embers of intolerance by raising fears about a threat of massive immigration.
After numerous calls for moderation on immigration and identity, let me again highlight another slip-up.
No hindsight
It is true that the next American president during the election campaign has threatened millions of people with deportation.
However, rather than taking the easy route by telling ourselves that it’s done, we should take a step back and note that during his first term, several of Mr. Trump’s electoral promises did not materialize.
Take for example the Canada, United States and Mexico economic agreement that the American president threatened to tear up, although it is still in force today. Let us hope again that Donald Trump’s proposals will also be tempered in his second term.
Furthermore, no solution is put forward. We therefore agree to fuel the fears and prejudices which have certainly led some not to vote for Mme Harris without offering solutions.
Find solutions
Can we set up an emergency table with the federal government to ensure a more equitable distribution of migratory flows? The federal government recently backed down on these targets and we could expect more openness for an equitable distribution of a potential migratory flow, the height of which we do not know.
Following its momentum, we were able to observe the government of Quebec trying to put the toothpaste back in the tube by talking about a special committee and confirming that we would not see the Sûreté du Québec patrolling the border, a proposal far-fetched and unrealistic.
Rather than launching into a tirade against migratory threats, without even proposing solutions, the Prime Minister would have every advantage in protecting the nest egg of Quebecers and ensuring the survival of Northvolt. It is about his economic credibility which remains the trademark of his government which already has several recent failures to its credit.
Vincent Boulay
Lawyer
Parti Québécois activist
