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Donald Trump’s victory in the United States and the success of populist politicians in other western democracies puts moderate politicians, especially liberals, in a very difficult position. How can we solve the problems that concern voters, especially immigration, while remaining true to our values ​​and principles? Populists propose radical and simple solutions to complex problems. We moderates prefer a pragmatic, principled approach. So what happens if voters choose the old man’s path?

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In Québec, the massive influx of refugees, first to Roxham Road and now to Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport, has sparked a wave of collective anxiety. For the last 30 years, the number of temporary immigrants has remained below 10,000 per year. Last year, this number reached 174,000, a record by far. Public services, especially health and education, are inadequate due to increasing demand. Many people blame the housing crisis on large numbers of newcomers. Indicators show that French is in decline as some newcomers choose English as a second language over French. Moreover, a significant number of immigrants bring their own religious beliefs and practices with them; This is unwelcome in a state that is as deeply secular today as it was Catholic before the Quiet Revolution in the 1960s.

Quebecers are waiting for the federal and provincial governments to do something about this situation. The obvious solution is to reduce the number of immigrants; it’s a requirement now even acknowledged by Justin Trudeau’s government. Ottawa recently announced a significant reduction in the number of new arrivals. But Trump’s election has raised fears that a significant portion of the millions of immigrants the new president plans to deport will reach Canadian borders. Will the federal government be able to control the flow?

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Quebec’s two other nationalist political parties, Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ – currently in government) and Parti Québécois (PQ – separatist party), are competing over who will accept fewer immigrants. They accuse the federal government of allowing “mass immigration” into the country, especially Quebec. In this context, the moderate, tolerant, pragmatic approach of my party, the Quebec Liberal Party (QLP), does not resonate well. What should we do? Want to join the anti-immigration chorus? Or will you design a policy that promises stronger controls at the border and welcomes newcomers for their contributions to the economy and the state’s cultural diversity? If we continue to choose the second alternative, will voters ignore us as they do now?

Moderate political parties face the same dilemma on other issues that are top of mind in citizens’ minds: inflation, economic inequalities, ineffectiveness of public services. Frustrated by the inability of traditional elites to deal convincingly with such problems, people turn to politicians who will “fix the problem,” no matter how superficial their proposals.

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Finding a solution to this dilemma is crucial because growing support for populists threatens our liberal democracies: the rule of law, the separation of powers, the protection of fundamental rights, freedom of the press and even elections. Donald Trump is not dangerous because he is from the right; It is dangerous because it ignores or even belittles democratic institutions and principles.

To deal with the influx of refugees, Quebec Premier François Legault has proposed that the federal government establish “holding zones” near Trudeau Airport where new arrivals would stay while their asylum claims are processed. “Waiting zones” is a diplomatic term for refugee camps. Do we really want these types of settlements in Canada?

Legault also suggested that thousands of new arrivals be forcibly removed from Québec to other provinces, since half of the refugees coming to Canada come to the province. Is forcing people to move to other regions Canada’s (or Quebec’s) way of dealing with this problem? However, the reluctance of other provinces to bear some of the burden poses a deep problem. What do moderate liberals say about this?

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PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon argues that only independence would allow Quebec to limit the number of immigrants coming into the province. If a solution cannot be found, this argument may appeal to many voters. One last article In Morse, former Trudeau adviser Gerald Butts observed that climate change could be front and center in the campaign for a third secession referendum. In my view, if Canada and Quebec cannot find the right balance on immigration, it is much more likely that this question will be on the referendum ballot. We would like to remind you that the PQ is much ahead of the others in the latest polls, meaning that if elections were held today, the separatists could form a majority government. Plamondon will thus be in a position to hold a new referendum on secession, as he promised. Fortunately, the next state elections are not scheduled until October 2026.

All over the Western world, citizens are demanding that politicians acknowledge and address their concerns. The future of democracy, and potentially Canada, depends on how moderate liberals address these issues without betraying their own values.

National Post

André Pratte is Chairman of the Policy Committee of the Quebec Liberal Party.

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