Close X
Tuesday, October 1, 2024
ADVT 
National

Immigration Hurting Sovereignty Movement: Liberals Slam Peladeau For Comments

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 19 Mar, 2015 02:41 PM

    On Wednesday, Peladeau said during a PQ leadership debate that immigration was hurting the sovereignty movement.

    "We don't have 25 years ahead of us to achieve it," Peladeau said. "With demographics, with immigration, we're definitely losing one riding each year."

    Couillard said the comments signalled "a clear shift toward ethnic nationalism" in the party.

    "Since the charter (the values charter the PQ wanted to implement) there has been a very unfortunate drift," Couillard said at the legislature.

    "There is no longer a financial argument or an economic argument for the separation of Quebec so they’re clinging to whatever they can."

    Peladeau said after the debate he wasn't attacking immigrants but rather demonstrating the importance of reaching out to them in the same way the federal government does.

    He reiterated that immigration is an asset that has benefited Quebec.

    Peladeau is the perceived front-runner in the PQ leadership race to be decided in May.

    Some of the other hopefuls were ill at ease with Peladeau's comments and distanced themselves.

    But Couillard said the party itself and its leadership should also have distanced themselves from the media mogul's comments.

    Other members of the governing Liberals also took aim at Peladeau's comments.

    Health Minister Gaetan Barrette made a parallel between the PQ and the Front National, a far-right party in France.

    Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Jean-Marc Fournier suggested the opposition party should change its name.

    "It's the party of certain Quebecers, not all Quebecers," Fournier said, saying the party co-founded by Rene Levesque is now unrecognizable.

    "They love to talk about values — it is a value to classify Quebecers?" Fournier asked. "Democracy is a place for everybody."

    MORE National ARTICLES

    B.C. Upholds Certificates For Controversial Prosperity, Tulsequah Mines

    B.C. Upholds Certificates For Controversial Prosperity, Tulsequah Mines
    The New Prosperity mine has been granted a five-year extension of its certificate, while the Tulsequah Chief Mine has been determined to have "substantially started," allowing the certificate to remain in effect for the life of the project.

    B.C. Upholds Certificates For Controversial Prosperity, Tulsequah Mines

    No decision on retrial for Calgary reservist convicted in training accident

    No decision on retrial for Calgary reservist convicted in training accident
    CALGARY — There's still no decision on whether a Calgary reservist who won an appeal of his conviction in a deadly Afghanistan training accident will face a new trial.

    No decision on retrial for Calgary reservist convicted in training accident

    Woe Canada: Prentice says Alberta oil crunch will hurt economies across country

    Woe Canada: Prentice says Alberta oil crunch will hurt economies across country
    EDMONTON — The aftershocks of Alberta's collapsing petro-economy will shake up homes and businesses from coast to coast to coast, Premier Jim Prentice said Wednesday.

    Woe Canada: Prentice says Alberta oil crunch will hurt economies across country

    Canadian home sales slow in December, prices still up from a year earlier: CREA

    Canadian home sales slow in December, prices still up from a year earlier: CREA
    OTTAWA — There were fewer home resales in Canada last month, with Calgary and Edmonton showing the biggest declines.

    Canadian home sales slow in December, prices still up from a year earlier: CREA

    Target Corp. checks out of Canada with plans to wind down 133 stores

    Target Corp. checks out of Canada with plans to wind down 133 stores
    TORONTO — Less than two years after Target Corp. threw open the doors of its first Canadian stores with grand expectations , the discount retailer is retreating back to the United States in defeat.

    Target Corp. checks out of Canada with plans to wind down 133 stores

    BlackBerry shares half of recent gain from report of takeover approach by Samsung

    BlackBerry shares half of recent gain from report of takeover approach by Samsung
    TORONTO — BlackBerry (TSX:BB) shares have given back a little over half of the spectacular gains that they made late Wednesday after a news report said the Canadian smartphone company had been approached by South Korean rival Samsung with a takeover offer.

    BlackBerry shares half of recent gain from report of takeover approach by Samsung