Franois Legault to address concerns about immigration cuts, but poll shows wide support for CAQ plan

Premier Franois Legault will outline measures this week aimed at easing concerns that cutting immigration levels will worsen Quebec's labour shortage.

In a major speech to be delivered Wednesday, Legaultwill announce policy initiatives to speed up the recognition of skills and work experience of immigrants, especially in rural areas.

The speech will also offer details about how the government intends to encourage more immigrants to settle outside of Montreal, government sourcestold Radio-Canada.

Quebec's legislature opens its first-ever session headed by aCAQgovernment on Tuesday. It will sit for two weeks before breaking for Christmas.

During that time, the government is expected to table an economic update and move forward with amendments to Quebec's cannabis law, including raising the minimum age of consumption from 18 to 21.

The Coalition Avenir Qubec government has already movedahead with its plan to reduce immigration levels by 20 per cent, a key campaign promise.

Immigration Minister Simon Jolin-Barretteopened negotiations recently with the federal government that could see the province accept roughly 12,000 fewer immigrants as early as next year.

Poll shows support for CAQ'simmigration plan

Legault, moreover, will be able to point to a new poll that suggests a strong majority of Quebecerssupport his immigration plan.

The poll, conducted by CROP betweenNov. 14 and 19, estimatesthat64 per cent of voters agree or strongly agree with the idea of reducing the province's immigration cap to 40,000 annually.

The same percentage, according to CROP,agreewith the CAQ'sclaimthat fewer immigrants will allow the government to integrate them better.

Only 43 per centagreed with the claim that reducing immigration would worsen the labour shortage.

AlainGigure,CROP's president, said that he wasn't surprised by the results of the poll, considering the supportLegaultwas able to command during the election.

Around two-thirds of people not only agreed withLegault'splan, but also said they supported his justification for it.

"I guess Mr.Legaulthas been able to convinceQuebecersthat we don't do our job properly when it comes to integrating immigrants," saidGigure.

Despiteconcerns about how the labour shortage might affect the economy going forward,Giguresaid that most respondents weren't swayed by that factor.

"Manycompanies are desperate to find people to work for them," he said."Even that point of view doesn't convinceQuebecers. There's a minority ofQuebecerswho believe that we need more immigrants to fill all these jobs."

CROP's findings are based on answers provided by an internetpanel of 1,000 people.