Takeaways for Quebec from last night's debate

Benjamin Shingler · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 17, 2025 8:34 AM EDT | Last Updated: 7 minutes ago

Missed past night's debate? While the Habs were successful the midst of securing a playoff spot, the 4 national leaders drew wide lines connected issues related to Quebec.

Wednesday's French-language statement covered 5 wide editorial themes — outgo of living, vigor and climate, the commercialized war, individuality and sovereignty, and migration and overseas affairs. It featured Liberal Leader Mark Carney, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet.

While CBC News has a afloat breakdown of the debate, and a look astatine immoderate of the cardinal points astatine the nationalist level, present are 4 takeaways peculiarly applicable to Quebec.

1. Language rights

The question of Quebec's close to legislate French-language protections — and its interaction connected English and Indigenous communities — came up during the debate.

Asked whether Quebec has the close to usage the notwithstanding clause to artifact its connection law, Bill 96, from ineligible challenges, Poilievre said Quebec "must support French" and helium volition too.

"I volition proceed to enactment laws and policies that let Quebec and the national authorities to support the French connection each crossed Canada," helium said.

Carney, for his part, said he's acrophobic astir the pre-emptive use of the notwithstanding clause, pointing retired that it has besides been utilized successful different provinces.

"The question is, bash we person rights and freedoms present successful Canada? Are we equal?" Carney asked, past added, "We request to see the close balance."

He said the "use of the notwithstanding clause successful a pre-emptive way is simply a question for the Supreme Court."

Blanchet said specified a situation amounts to utilizing Quebec payer wealth to situation Quebec's ain authorities astatine Canada's apical court. Carney pointed retired that Quebec is facing ineligible challenges from wrong the province, which is true.

WATCH | Leaders connected the notwithstanding clause:

2. Immigration

The 4 leaders besides weighed successful on how to champion grip immigration, and drew wide lines successful peculiar connected asylum seekers. 

Quebec Premier François Legault has called for cuts to migration levels and greater powers, adjacent aft stricter limits were imposed past fall.

During the debate, Poilievre accused the Liberals of allowing the strategy to "spiral retired of control," with the fig of planetary students and impermanent overseas workers connected the emergence successful caller years.

Carney tried to region himself from the past government's handling of the file, saying the "system isn't working."

On the question of asylum seekers, Poilievre said helium would artifact Haitians coming from the U.S. seeking asylum successful Canada. Carney, too, said determination are limits to what the state tin handle, and that astir asylum seekers are apt to beryllium turned backmost to the U.S. fixed the Safe Third Country Agreement successful place.

"We person to beryllium human, but we person to beryllium realistic. Canada can't judge everyone," helium said.

Singh, for his part, argued that Canada should suspend the Safe Third Country statement with the U.S. owed to the Trump administration's evident violations of quality rights.

"We're talking astir a unsafe situation," the NDP person said. "It's a question of humanity, of compassion."

WATCH | A look astatine immoderate of the notable moments:

3. Pipelines

Donald Trump's threats toward Canada person renewed the thought of much pipelines carrying lipid and state from occidental Canada done Quebec.

Poilievre, who has championed the thought of fast-tracking specified vigor projects, was asked if helium would propulsion a pipeline done Quebec adjacent if determination wasn't wide support.

Poilievre replied: "There's nary societal acceptability for the presumption quo."

Blanchet, who is staunchly opposed to immoderate caller pipeline, responded by saying: "What a hollow phrase. That means nothing. When it rains, it's sunny out."

Carney said pipelines request support from Quebec and different provinces, and the enactment of Indigenous people.

"This is Canada," helium responded. "That's however Canada works."

4. Canadian unity and Quebec identity

The leaders were asked whether Canada is divided arsenic it faces threats from southbound of the border. Poilievre said yes, and blamed 10 years of Liberal authorities for sowing part wrong the country.

"Unfortunately, determination are divisions crossed Canada," helium said. The country, helium added, "must unite astir our communal identity," which helium said includes the French and English languages, arsenic good arsenic "our subject past and Canada's promise."

Blanchet said "Quebec does not request to beryllium a Canadian state to person its ain voice."

He said the menace of Trump needs to beryllium taken seriously, but said that menace should not beryllium utilized to marque Quebecers to springiness up their attachment to the French connection and culture.

He accused the Liberal authorities of not doing capable to support the provincial economy, and the aluminum manufacture successful particular, from U.S. tariffs — a complaint Carney denied.

Carney said the possibilities for Canada are "enormous due to the fact that we are each successful the aforesaid boat."

Singh, emphasizing the request to support cosmopolitan wellness care, said Canadians person a communal identity — "we instrumentality attraction of 1 another."

WATCH | The afloat debate, with English translation: