Immigration: Quebec group denounces Roberge’s “assimilationist” bill

A group that works with immigrants in Quebec is opposing Immigration Minister Jean-François Roberge’s integration bill – in its current form – saying it’s an “assimilationist approach.” 

The Round Table of Organizations Serving Refugees and Immigrants (TCRI) asserts that the Legault government’s legislative piece breaks with the interculturalism of integration.

Minister Roberge said he was influenced by this concept in the development of his legislative piece. He rejected the term “assimilationist” to describe his bill. 

“When reading the law, we see clearly that people are invited to adhere to the common culture, certainly, to contribute to it also based on their own cultural characteristics. We are not asking them to erase themselves upon arriving in Quebec,” assured the Minister at a press briefing on Tuesday.

The TCRI – which brings together more than 150 organizations that work with immigrants – has several grievances against the bill.

In a document of “preliminary comments” submitted to the National Assembly, the group criticizes it in particular for not considering “the full participation of immigrants as an end in itself, but rather as a means to ensure their adhesion and their contribution to the common culture” and for not proposing any measures “to tackle the structures that produce inequalities, such as racism or systemic discrimination.” 

“Funding French language courses”

Roberge tabled Bill 84 on national integration in January. The goal he has said is to propose a “unifying social contract,” to put forward the values ​​that form “the foundation of our society,” such as “democracy,” “equality between men and women” and “secularism,” and to take the opposite view of Canadian multiculturalism.

Consultations on the bill began Tuesday. Sociologist Gérard Bouchard also participated. He says he is “happy” to see that the concept of interculturalism – of which he is one of the intellectual fathers – inspired the minister’s bill. 

“It is about time that Quebec adopt a diversity management model that departs from both Canadian multiculturalism and all assimilationist or assimilationist-leaning models,” he wrote in his brief submitted to the National Assembly. 

The intellectual also makes some warnings. 

“Reciprocity also requires that the host society provide newcomers and minority groups with the means to facilitate their integration. For example: a) prevent discrimination and racism (in all its forms) that particularly affect certain minorities, b) provide assistance to economically and socially deprived minorities (a condition that is inseparable from cultural objectives), c) finance courses in French language training and initiation to Quebec culture and society,” he adds. 

French Language Commissioner Benoît Dubreuil welcomed Bill 84, but made several recommendations to improve it and make it more precise.

In particular, he proposes that the bill formulate duties of integration “with regard to the private sector, the education and higher education system and the associative environment”. 

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews