Quebec presses forward with cuts to immigration, despite Trudeau's concerns

Quebec is movingforward with its plan to cut the number of immigrants by more than 20 per cent next year, despite concerns raised by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The Coalition AvenirQubecgovernmenttabled details of its policy on Tuesday, confirming it will go ahead with a campaign promise to reduce the number of immigrants to 40,000 in 2019, down from more than 50,000 this year.

Immigration Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette saidthe governmentwants to make sure those who are coming will be better integrated into the workforce.

"What we want is to use our resources so that every person that chooses Quebec has a chance at success," he said in the National Assembly.

At a news conference, Jolin-Barrettedidn'toffer details about how the government will ensure moreimmigrantsfind jobs.

Healso said aFrench language and values test, a contentious proposalput forward during the campaign, is still in the works.

Earlier Tuesday,Trudeau suggested Quebec should rethink its plan to cut back on the number of immigrants it accepts each year.

Trudeau said he's heard from businesses owners who are concerned about the province's labour shortage.

"I'm not sure this is the best time to reduce the number of people who are coming," he told reporters in Ottawa, speaking in French.

Federal, municipal concerns about labour shortage

TheCAQrequires co-operation from the federal government to follow through on its campaign promise.

Quebec only has jurisdiction over economic immigration, while the family reunification and refugees programs are overseen by the federal government.

Intergovernmental AffairsMinister Dominic LeBlanc, the federal government's point person on the issue,said the federal governmentwill study Quebec's plan.

He said he wants to make sure the provincefulfilsits duties outlined in the existing Ottawa-Quebec immigration agreement to take in refugeesand immigrants who already have family living in the province.

Montreal MayorValrie Plante alsoraised concerns Tuesday about the impact the CAQplan will have on labour shortages in the province's largest city.

Quebec's unemployment rate reached a historic low of 6.1 per cent last year. The CAQ's economic update, released Monday, noted the tightening labour market could slow economic growth.

The Conseil du patronat du Qubec (CPQ), a major employers group that promotes business interests in the province, agreed.

It released a statement Tuesday evening saying that immigration is essential to the province's prosperity.

"Reducing the volume only makes the situation worse,"said Yves-Thomas Dorval, the president of CPQ.

The CPQsaid it hopes the government will nowincrease the number of temporary foreign workers to help meet labour demands.

In defending his immigration policy, Premier Franois Legault has repeatedly pointed out the unemployment rate is 15 per cent among immigrants who have been in the province for five years or less.

Trudeau said discussions about the quotas with the province are ongoing. Ottawa, meanwhile, has signalled its intention to increase the number of immigrants across the country.

The Quebec Liberals wanted to have a debate about the CAQ'simmigration plan but no debate, nor vote among members ofthe National Assembly, isrequired to set the annual quota.

LiberalimmigrationcriticDominique Angladesaid the government's target number is arbitrary, and a decrease in newcomers won't necessarily mean they will be better integrated.

"And if it's not based on facts, what else is it based on other than ideology?" she said.