Legault finds Trump's fears on immigration “legitimate”

Photo: Jacques Boissinot The Canadian Press Donald Trump's statement is, according to François Legault, a “bombshell,” but it is better to remain calm in the face of it.

Quebec Premier François Legault believes that “Donald Trump's fears about immigration are legitimate.” However, he is against the methods of the U.S. president-elect, who is jeopardizing “tens of thousands” of jobs by threatening to impose 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican products.

Mr. Legault pointed the finger at Justin Trudeau’s government’s management of the border on Tuesday. “Twenty-five percent in tariffs would mean tens of thousands of job losses, so yes, Quebecers would pay dearly,” he said. “The first thing Mr. Trudeau must do is secure the borders to remove that argument from Mr. Trump.”

The American brandished the threat of a tax, saying it would remain in effect “until drugs, particularly fentanyl, and all illegal immigrants stop this invasion” of the United States.

From Quebec City, François Legault said he saw the same danger coming as the American president-elect. “There is a significant increase in the number of illegal immigrants coming through Canada,” he said. “Mr. Trudeau, more than ever, needs to come up with a plan, a plan to properly protect the border on both sides.”

The CAQ leader also offered the assistance of the Sûreté du Québec to his Canadian counterpart during a telephone conversation organized Monday evening. Premiers from all provinces have agreed to meet virtually with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday.

See also

• Trump vows to impose 25% tariffs on Canadian, Mexican goods
• Trudeau to discuss Trump tariffs with premiers on Wednesday
• Loonie falls after Trump's tariff announcement

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Mr. Trump’s statement is a “bombshell,” according to Mr. Legault. “We must not panic, we must remain calm, but we must take Mr. Trump’s threats very seriously,” he said.

The premier said he would like a representative from Quebec to participate in all negotiations. He has already approached candidates, but is waiting for a response from Ottawa to know the exact role of this person. He said he fears that the federal government will make compromises at Quebec’s expense, for example by protecting the oil, gas or automobile industries. What’s more, Quebec must ensure that it maintains an exemption on cultural products, he argued.

The minister responsible for the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region, Andrée Laforest, spoke with the mining group Rio Tinto on Monday. “Even the company jumped,” she said. The elected official stressed the importance of protecting the wood and aluminum sectors, a flagship industry in her region. The entire economy of Quebec must be protected, she then specified. “It’s quite worrisome.”

A negotiator for Quebec ?

On Tuesday morning, the Quebec Liberal Party called on Premier Legault to appoint a chief negotiator as soon as possible. A bit like what Philippe Couillard’s government did in 2017 by giving this key position to Raymond Bachand, as part of the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement, NAFTA.

“It is up to Canada, to Quebec, to ensure a role of leadership and then to organize,” stressed interim leader Marc Tanguay.

By delaying action, the head of the Quebec government has left all the space to his Ontario counterpart, deplored MP Frédéric Beauchemin. “The lead has been taken by [Ontario Premier] Doug Ford,” while the Coalition avenir Québec, for its part, “is falling asleep.”

As a candidate for the Liberal leadership, Mr. Beauchemin suggested considering “all options,” including that of a “reciprocal tax on a list of American products produced in Republican states.” It could be bourbon, he illustrated. Premier Legault has shown no appetite for a “tariff war,” without however ruling out the possibility. “Quebec exports $87 billion to the United States, and imports $43 billion,” he recalled.

MP Pascal Paradis, from the Parti Québécois, stressed that the president-elect’s request was contrary to the spirit of the major trade agreements. “If you ask me if it is legally legitimate, Canada would probably have a very good case before the courts,” argued the international law lawyer.

As for Solidarity MP Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, he called on governments to act “together in the coming months to avoid job losses in Quebec.”