Dwell – Quebec election: Legault says he’s not afraid of immigrants

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Up to date all through the day on Thursday, Sept. 8. Questions/feedback: ariga@postmedia.com

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Prime updates

9:50 a.m.

Video: Legault says he’s not afraid of immigrants

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At a press convention this morning, François Legault was requested if he’s afraid of immigrants.

“Under no circumstances,” the Coalition Avenir Québec chief responded. “Now we have many candidates who’re immigrants, in some circumstances very not too long ago arrived.”

Legault denied his statements a day earlier have been an try to court docket voters who concern immigration.

He stated immigration is “an vital query for individuals who are involved in regards to the preservation of French in Quebec in the long run. We noticed it – the numbers are clear: there’s a decline within the French language.”

Legault stated his occasion will preserve immigration in examine to guard the French language, in contrast to the Liberals and Québec solidaire, which wish to considerably improve the variety of immigrants coming to Quebec.

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“It’s a query that is essential for a lot of francophones in Quebec,” he stated.

Requested what he would say to immigrants to Quebec who fled violence, Legault stated: “What I inform them is I’ve many associates, we now have many candidates, that come from immigration. Immigration is vital in Quebec.”

Legault was requested if his statements about immigrants might be in comparison with far-right political figures reminiscent of Marine Le Pen in France and former U.S. President Donald Trump.

“We don’t have any sort of Le Pen or Trump in Quebec and I feel it’s vital to ensure that we shield our language,” he answered.

The incumbent premier is making an attempt to show the web page on the uproar attributable to feedback he made yesterday about immigrants when he appeared to equate immigration with violence and extremism.

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Legault was speaking in regards to the “challenges of integration.”

Talking to reporters, he stated the “sort of society we would like,” the “values” of that society and “respect” should be thought-about.

Requested what sort of respect can be threatened, Legault responded: “Quebecers are peaceable, they don’t prefer to bicker, they don’t like extremists, they don’t like violence. Now we have to make sure that we preserve it the best way it’s proper now.”

Legault opened right this moment’s press convention by saying that “immigration is an asset for Quebec and I by no means wished to affiliate immigration with violence.”

He famous that jurisdictions all over the world face “a problem in integrating newcomers to their values and language,” including that Quebec faces explicit points due to “the language scenario in North America.”

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Liberal Chief Dominique Anglade, who has usually accused Legault of making an attempt to divide Quebecers, stated his feedback have been unacceptable.

“In case you make a hyperlink between violence and immigration, I don’t suppose that sends an excellent message,” she stated. “It’s an especially harmful conflation.”

Watch the press convention:

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8:50 a.m.

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

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Man charged with breaking into Liberal MNA’s using workplace in Lachine

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A person has been charged in reference to the break-in final week at Liberal MNA Enrico Ciccone’s using workplace in Lachine.

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