PLQ leadership: Karl Blackburn would increase permanent immigration

Former MNA and former president of the Conseil du patronat, Karl Blackburn, entered the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) leadership race on Monday, emphasizing the importance of immigrants for businesses.

“Withdrawal is not my cup of tea,” he said at a press conference in a Quebec City hotel, explaining his reasons for joining the race at the last minute.

Former CEO of the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec, Charles Millard, former federal minister Pablo Rodriguez, lawyer Marc Bélanger, and farmer Mario Roy are already in the running.

Blackburn denounced the CAQ’s “identity withdrawal”; if he ever becomes premier, he promises to maintain temporary immigration thresholds and increase permanent immigration.

“Without this, we’re accepting a decline,” he said, adding that nearly one in two businesses in Quebec postpones or cancels investment projects because they don’t have enough workers.

“Quebec’s borders must serve as a springboard for our global reach, not as a bulwark to protect us from any invader,” he added.

Describing himself as a “regional guy,” Blackburn, who was surrounded by his family on Monday, said he was shocked by the new record deficit of $13.6 billion revealed in last week’s budget.

According to him, the state of public finances places Quebecers in a highly vulnerable situation in the economic war unleashed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

After battling prostate cancer in recent months, Blackburn emphasized that his health has returned and that his passion for Quebec and its regions has never left him.

He said he wants to draw on his more than 30 years of experience in business and politics to make a difference.

If elected to lead the PLQ, he intends to embody “positive, inclusive leadership capable of uniting Quebecers.” However, he admitted at a press conference that he has some difficulty speaking English.

Even though he “deeply” believes in the secular nature of the state, he would not “systematically” renew the exemption provisions included in Bill 21. Furthermore, the reform of Bill 101 “has complicated life for businesses in Quebec,” he said.

Third Link and Stablex

Blackburn also declared himself in favor of the third road link project between Quebec City and Lévis, saying he respected “municipal democracy.”

He also had to reverse the lobbying mandate he held as president of the Conseil du patronat to support the hazardous waste landfill company Stablex.

Last Friday, the Legault government passed a gag order to expropriate the City of Blainville and allow Stablex to expand its landfill on the land it coveted.

The opposition denounced the move, highlighting the “exceptional ecological value” of the land in question.

“Hundreds of businesses in Quebec depend on Stablex and their production,” Blackburn said Monday. He said he found it “unfortunate that we’ve resorted to adopting a special gag law,” and asserted that the government had “only itself to blame” for letting “the situation drag on.”

Race Against Time

Blackburn’s late arrival in the race represents a major challenge, as candidates have until April 11 to submit their nomination papers to the party.

They must deposit $40,000 and the signatures of 750 members in good standing, including 350 new members.

Stéphane Billette, former Minister for Small and Medium Enterprises under Philippe Couillard, will be the chief organizer of Blackburn’s campaign. Vicky Joseph and Sarah Pilote will be the co-chairs.

Already, almost the entire Liberal caucus has rallied behind candidates Charles Milliard and Pablo Rodriguez. It would be “so much the better” if the MNAs were to change sides, Blackburn said.

His slogan is “We’ll meet again.”

The PLQ will elect its new leader on June 14 at the end of a convention in Quebec City. Between now and then, there will be six debates, the first of which will be held on April 27 in Gatineau.

A native of Chicoutimi, Blackburn was the Liberal MNA for Roberval from 2003 to 2007. He also served as the PLQ’s chief organizer and executive director.

In 2013, he was appointed Director of Public Affairs and Government Relations at Resolute Forest Products. He headed the Employers Council from 2020 to 2025.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews