Legault says immigration hike would be “a bit suicidal” for French fluency

By Cosmin Dzsurdzsa

Premier Francois Legault said on Wednesday that accepting over 50,000 immigrants a year into Quebec would be “a bit suicidal” for French language fluency.

Legault made the comments while fielding questions from reporters on the decline of Quebeckers who speak French.

“People say, where did you draw this capacity to integrate (idea) from. The most recent numbers are clear. There is a decline,” said Legault.

“So if we use the same recipe, it will produce the same cake. What we say is stick with 50,000 but be more demanding on the knowledge of French. But until we have stopped the decline of French, I think that, for the Quebec nation, which wants to protect French, it would be a bit suicidal to increase it.”