Federal election: Legault salutes Poilievre, reserves judgment on Carney

Premier François Legault hailed Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre’s promises on immigration on Thursday, but seemed to reserve judgment on Liberal leader Mark Carney.

Quebec’s Premier presented his traditional “grocery list” for federal party leaders on Day 5 of the election campaign, which runs until April 28.

Legault focused on two priorities: reducing the number of temporary immigrants and protecting key sectors of the Quebec economy to ensure prosperity in the context of a tariff war with the United States.

He praised Poilievre’s “extraordinary” promise to cede to Quebec the power to select certain immigrants via the International Mobility Program (PMI).

“I want to highlight the gesture made last night by Mr. Poilievre to commit to transferring to the Quebec government the selection of (…) more than 90 per cent of the temporary workers in the PMI program,” he said.

“It’s a big step in the right direction, and I hope the other federal leaders will do the same,” he added.

Legault is also asking Canada’s next Prime Minister to respect Quebec’s jurisdictions, invest more in infrastructure in Quebec and protect the supply management system.

During the last federal election campaign in 2021, he described the Liberal Party of Canada as “dangerous” and recommended that Quebecers vote Conservative.

On Thursday, he remained cautious in his comments about Mark Carney, a former Governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, saying in English that he hoped the next Prime Minister would be “a good negotiator.”

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews