Canada’s newly appointed immigration minister, Marc Miller, has wasted no time in engaging in a conflict with Quebec, just a few weeks into his role. Prior to this position, Miller had been working towards improving the relationship between the federal government and indigenous communities for a span of five years. However, with the recent cabinet shuffle, he now faces the challenge of serving as Canada’s immigration minister.
During his inaugural press conference, Miller directly addressed Quebec’s policy on family reunification. He expressed concern over Quebec’s restriction on family reunification, which currently stands at around 10,000 families. Furthermore, he highlighted the staggering backlog of 30,000 families who are eager to come to Quebec and support their children, yet are unable to do so due to the province’s decision to halt the process.
Under the leadership of Premier François Legault, Quebec has been working diligently to gain more control over immigration from the federal government. While economic immigration and family reunification fall under Quebec’s jurisdiction, it’s important to note that the cap of 10,000 set by Quebec seems insufficient. Immigration lawyer Patrice Brunet expressed alarm over this number, emphasizing that this issue is not related to economic immigration, but rather involves families who are patiently waiting to be reunited. Brunet asserted that the two-year waiting period in Quebec is nearly double that of the rest of Canada, labeling it as inhumane. He also expressed concern that these delays would only intensify as the backlog continues to grow.
Minister Miller has made it clear that family reunification will be a key priority in his discussions with the Quebec government. He emphasized the need for mature conversations with provinces and territories regarding the integration of newcomers, including the specific issue of family reunification.
Political scientist Daniel Béland pointed out the apparent disagreement between Ottawa and Quebec City regarding family reunification. While he doesn’t expect the federal government to concede complete control to Quebec, Béland believes there is room for some adjustment in terms of powers. Quebec’s recent decision to accept only French-speaking economic immigrants as part of their efforts to protect the French language has garnered attention. In response, Minister Miller expressed his willingness to collaborate with Quebec on preserving the French language, while also acknowledging the federal government’s role in supporting French-speaking communities outside of Quebec.
Quebec’s immigration ministry has requested an initial meeting with Minister Miller to address priority issues promptly. It remains to be seen how these discussions will unfold and whether any compromises will be reached on the matter of family reunification.
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