The Canadian Federal Government declines to grant full immigration authority to Quebec

Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau denied Quebec’s request for full control over immigration, noting Quebec already has more power in this area to protect the French. Despite a “constructive” conversation with Premier Francois Legault, Trudeau refrained from discussing who holds the power, focusing on improving the system. The federal immigration department has previously overridden Quebec’s cap for family reunification, showing Ottawa’s willingness to intervene. Legault had intended to request full immigration powers during a recent meeting with Trudeau, their first since December 2022. Quebec has also increased its compensation request for managing asylum seekers to $1 billion, with Ottawa agreeing to $100 million.