OTTAWA — After years of sending billions of dollars to the Quebec government so it could offer French classes to newcomers, Ottawa is now asking the province how the money is being spent.
For decades, the federal government has been sending hundreds of millions of dollars each year to the Quebec government so it could teach newcomers the French language to help them adapt to the only francophone province in Canada. Last year, Ottawa’s cheque was for more than $775 million. Meanwhile, Quebec has invested $478 million. The money is mainly used to offer French classes to adults and children.
But with an $11 billion deficit and a huge number of newcomers on its territory, Quebec Premier François Legault’s government recently decided to reduce “francisation” by closing adult classes.
For years, Legault has maintained that his priority was to protect French and combat its decline. So when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Quebec lieutenant, Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos, learned a few weeks ago that many classes were being cancelled, he was stunned.
“I need answers,” he told the National Post earlier this week.
Duclos sent a letter to Quebec Immigration Minister Jean-François Roberge, calling on him to reconsider his decision.
“We cannot ignore our concerns that some newcomers currently do not have access to French language classes upon arrival in Quebec due to your government’s budgetary restrictions,” Duclos wrote in a letter shared with several media outlets, including the National Post.
The minister acknowledged that over the years, the federal government has not asked Quebec many questions about how the money is being spent.
“We have respected the authority granted to the Quebec government regarding the use of this money. But when we see the closure of classes, the layoff of French teachers, the fact that students in translation courses are losing their transit courses… it worries us,” said Duclos.
The minister said he intends to “ask questions” to his counterpart. He did not say whether an audit or investigation could be launched into where the federal money went if he does not get the answers he is looking for.
“It is clear that we will need answers,” he said.
Roberge fired back in the National Assembly, accusing the federal government of “creating unnecessary confusion.”
“We are using federal funds. The costs associated with mass immigration and the federal government’s total loss of control over immigration are immense. These costs lead to problems in health, housing, education, social assistance and food assistance,” he said.
He then added that changes are underway within the government.
“We will announce openings and increases in course offerings in the coming weeks and months,” Roberge said.
Quebec is struggling to cope with a considerable increase in new arrivals on its territory. There are currently approximately 600,000 temporary immigrants in Quebec, according to the government.
Announcements of the closure of French courses in Quebec have been coming one after the other for several weeks. So far, more than 3,600 students have had their courses cancelled and many of them are unable to continue their training. Teachers’ unions say that approximately 200 of their members will lose their jobs and dozens more will have reduced responsibilities.
Minister Duclos wants the problem fixed, quickly.
“We need to make sure that the money in the pipeline goes to the right place, because in Quebec, we know that the key to the successful integration of newcomers lies in French integration,” he said.
He argued that Quebec has a financial advantage in investing in French courses, because “when people integrate more quickly and work more quickly, they will need less help from the Quebec government and will pay more taxes more quickly.”
“It’s good for everyone, including public finances,” he added.
National Post
[email protected]
Get more deep-dive National Post political coverage and analysis in your inbox with the Political Hack newsletter, where Ottawa bureau chief Stuart Thomson and political analyst Tasha Kheiriddin get at what’s really going on behind the scenes on Parliament Hill every Wednesday and Friday, exclusively for subscribers. Sign up here.
Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our newsletters here.