Legault criticized, apologizes after linking immigration to ‘extremists,’ ‘violence’

Coalition Avenir Québec leader François Legault apologized on social media Wednesday evening over comments he made hours earlier at a press conference that linked immigration with “extremists” and “violence.”

Legault said the arrival of immigrants posed a “challenge” for society when it comes to integration, that there is a way of life in the province that needs to be maintained.

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He said that the type of society Quebecers want should be considered, like values secularism and respect. Asked by a reporter what kind of respect could be threatened by immigration, Legault replied: “Quebecers are peaceful, they don’t like bickering, they don’t like extremists, they don’t like violence.”

L’immigration est une richesse pour le Québec. L’intégration sera toujours un défi pour une nation francophone en Amérique du Nord. Je n’ai pas voulu
associer l’immigration à la violence. Je suis désolé si mes propos ont porté à confusion. Ma volonté c'est de rassembler.

— François Legault (@francoislegault) September 7, 2022

On Wednesday evening, Legault tweeted: “Immigration is an asset for Quebec. Integration will always be a challenge for a French-speaking nation in North America. I did not want associate immigration with violence. I’m sorry if my words have been confusing. My desire is to unite.”

On Day 12 of the election campaign Thursday, he is being accused of revealing his true feelings about newcomers.

Legault at a press conference in Roberval, Que., said all countries face challenges of integrating immigrants and  that he never meant to disparage immigrants.

“When questions were asked about which values, I shouldn’t have answered that because some people made a bad link between that and our immigrants in Quebec, our challenge is really about the language, not about the values,” Legault said.

Legault is now facing harsh criticism from his opponents in the election. Quebec Liberal Party leader, Dominique Anglade, a former member of the CAQ, says she left the party years ago because of its stance on immigration, adding that Legault hasn’t evolved on the issue.

“What he delivered yesterday is the substance of his thought,” said “What he delivered yesterday was to say that basically, the other, the one who is not like us, can be dangerous. That continues to fuel prejudice. We don’t need that in Quebec.”

Legault defended himself with a message to Quebec immigrants: “We have many candidates that are coming from the immigration. Immigration is important in Quebec. We’re happy about immigration, regarding values, but we still have a challenge regarding integration to French.

Quebec solidaire spokesperson Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois says Legault underestimates the impact those kinds of comments have on the daily lives of regular people.

“For people like me in our community, it definitely makes us feel more than ever that those who are in power right now do not want us here,” said Dolores Chew, a South Asian community activist. “We just feel that we don’t count. We are disposable and I would say it also makes us very concerned for our safety and that of ourselves and our families and our community.”

“Close to four decades that I’m here, working in community, as a teacher, as a parent and a grandparent, raising children and grandchildren,” Chew added. “I’m contributing to Quebec. But when I hear these words, it’s like shocking, a slap in the face.”