Week two of Quebec campaign dominated by debates on immigration, language

The second week of Quebec’s election campaign has been dominated by immigration, language and anglophone rights, with the Parti Québécois facing criticism despite maintaining its lead in the polls.

PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre-Plamondon stirred controversy by linking immigration to overcrowded schools and the decline of French. Québec solidaire spokesperson Ruba Ghazal accused him of scapegoating immigrant children and criticized previous governments for underfunding the education system.

St-Pierre-Plamondon also faced criticism for citing data that includes Quebec-born children of immigrants. The dispute has made immigration and the French language central issues as the campaign moves forward.

The Coalition Avenir Québec, meanwhile, came under fire after Élections Québec said language laws required it to provide printed voter guides in French only. Liberal Party Leader Charles Milliard wrote an open letter expressing his disapproval after groups advocating for anglophones accused the election authority of voter suppression.

Economic concerns also shaped the campaign’s second week. Quebec lost 19,000 jobs last month, more than any other province, according to Statistics Canada. The agency said the trade war with the United States played a role, prompting strong reactions from party leaders on the ninth day of the campaign.