Quebec Government Quashes Motion Recognizing Invaluable Contribution of Asylum Seekers and Calling on Canadian Government to Regularize Their StatusOn May 13, during a sitting of the Quebec National Assembly, where the invaluable contribution of health care workers on the front line of fighting the pandemic was being discussed and highlighted, Catherine Fournier, Independent Member for the riding of Marie-Victorin, in agreement with Monique Sauvé, Liberal Party Member (Fabre); Sol Zanetti, Québéc Solidaire Member (Jean-Lesage); and Guy Ouellette, Independent Member (Chomedey), rose to present the following motion without notice:
"That it request that the Canadian government quickly regularize their immigration status, while recognizing the work they have done during the present health emergency." To debate the motion in the National Assembly required the unanimous consent of all the parties. When asked by the Leader of the National Assembly if there was consent, Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) Deputy House Leader Éric Caire responded that there was no consent, thereby quashing any debate on the motion. Two days later during Premier Legault's daily press update on COVID-19, a journalist from In Texto, a newspaper addressing itself to Montreal's Haitian community, asked the Premier if what had transpired in the National Assembly was also his position. "Let's begin by speaking in general terms about asylum seekers," Legault answered. "We've spoken about this at length over the last year, about all those who enter through Roxham Road. Within the framework of the pandemic, even Mr. Trudeau does not want us to be receiving asylum seekers that enter through Roxham Road. We've locked the borders and [...] we discussed with Mr. Trudeau yesterday evening about extending that closure by a month. That's one thing. This does not mean that with regard to asylum seekers, including members of the Haitian community, that there are not good people there who have come to work in our CHSLDs. These are two separate files. [...] [W]e have two members of the Haitian community in our Cabinet and I am aware of the problem of the Haitian community in certain Montreal neighourhoods. And by the way, that's why, amongst other reasons, we're giving a million masks to [Montreal Mayor] Valérie Plante, so that she can distribute them freely in neighbourhoods where it's more difficult. "So I think that the two files have to be separated. Asylum seekers are one thing," Legault continued, "So let's not mix up the refugee file -- people going through Roxham Road, with the file on the Haitian community." The journalist responded, "No, it's because they are here, Mr. Legault, because they are here. But that does not answer my question, Mr. Legault. Do you back that position?" Legault replied, "Well listen, what I understand from your question, what was being asked was to support the arrival of asylum seekers." He then said, "Within the framework of the pandemic, neither the Quebec government nor the Canadian government supports that at present. I am therefore also not a proponent." The journalist then interjected to clarify that his question did not relate to the matter Legault gave his opinion about, saying, "No, it's not about them coming ...." at which point he was cut off as someone asked for the next question. (With files from Quebec National Assembly, CPAC, In Texto. All quotations translated from original French by TML.)
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"That the
National Assembly recognize the contribution of
hundreds of asylum seekers, mainly of Haitian
origin, presently working as patient attendants
in Quebec's CHSLDs [Residential and Long Term
Care Centres];