Quebec immigration minister Jean-François Roberge under investigation by the Ethics Commissioner
Posted April 8, 2026 8:29 am.
Last Updated April 8, 2026 10:50 am.
The National Assembly’s Ethics Commissioner is launching an investigation into Quebec Immigration Minister Jean-François Roberge. The investigation will focus on the fact that he shared the results of analyses produced by his ministry regarding the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) with CAQ leadership candidates Bernard Drainville and Christine Fréchette.
Both candidates vying to succeed François Legault propose reinstating the PEQ, which served as a fast track for temporary immigrants to obtain permanent residency, subject to certain conditions.
Christine Fréchette proposes a “grandfather clause” for immigrants who were present in Quebec at the time the program was closed, for a period of two years. Bernard Drainville has committed to granting a grandfather clause to temporary workers in priority sectors, such as healthcare and education. Jean-François Roberge had the two candidates’ proposals evaluated.
During the second leadership debate, Drainville stated that the minister had told him his proposal would result in 18,000 new permanent residents. Fréchette declined to reveal her figure, stating that she would adhere to the threshold of 45,000 permanent residents per year. La Presse subsequently reported that the assessment for Christine Fréchette’s scenario indicated that between 123,800 and 126,800 immigrants could obtain permanent residency.
Commissioner Ariane Mignolet must therefore determine whether Minister Roberge violated Article 17 of the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct for Elected Officials, which “provides, in particular, that a member of the National Assembly may not use or disclose information obtained in the course of their duties that is not generally available to the public to further their own personal interests or those of any other person.”
It was Liberal leader Marc Tanguay and Quebec Solidaire MNA Etienne Grandmont who requested the opening of this investigation.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
