Based on coverage from CBC, Montreal Gazette, Winnipeg Free Press, and Sudbury.com.
A tense final leadership debate in Laval put immigration, French language protection, and political consistency front and centre as Bernard Drainville and Christine Fréchette make their last case to Coalition Avenir Québec members before voting opens April 7.
As the debate over immigration and language policy intensifies, it echoes broader concerns in Quebec, such as those raised during a recent rally against the federal firearms ban that highlighted the province's ongoing discussions about autonomy and governance.
Drainville, a former education minister, repeatedly argued Quebec’s capacity is strained, tying crowded schools and other pressures to immigration levels. Fréchette, the former immigration minister, pushed back that he was trying to “scare people” and said her plan would still respect Quebec’s annual immigration targets. The back-and-forth got personal at times, with Drainville booed in the room when he went after her record on Roxham Road.
CAQ leadership race heads to April vote
CAQ members can vote for their new leader from April 7 to the afternoon of April 12, when the result will be announced. The winner automatically replaces François Legault as Quebec premier until the next provincial election.
Crowd size was reported at about 300 people in the ballroom, and the debate was also broadcast on the party’s website. Around 20,000 CAQ members are eligible to vote.
Quebec immigration debate focuses on PEQ
A major flashpoint was what to do with temporary immigrants caught in the changes to Quebec’s immigration pathways. The Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) was abolished last year and replaced with a more limited Skilled Workers Selection program (PSTQ), leaving what some describe as “PEQ orphans” unsure of their future.
Drainville proposed an exemption for people who were already in Quebec before the PEQ ended, but limited to certain sectors such as education and construction. He said that would allow about 18,000 applicants to remain, and he would subtract that number from another category of temporary immigrants.
Fréchette went bigger: she said she would reinstate the PEQ for two years so those already in Quebec before the change could apply, covering up to 45,000 people. She argued this would still fit within Quebec’s immigration targets because admissions through the revived PEQ would be subtracted from the PSTQ.
Drainville pressed her repeatedly on whether her plan would mean more newcomers overall, while Fréchette insisted it would not.
French language politics and Bill 101 plans
Both candidates leaned hard into Quebec’s language politics. Fréchette said French is at risk and proposed extending Bill 101 to adult education and vocational training, arguing that would mean about 10,000 more people training and graduating in French.
Drainville made language protection a test of leadership style, framing Fréchette as hesitant on high-profile files. He pointed to her shifting position on whether Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau should resign after delivering an English-only message of condolence following a crash at New York’s LaGuardia airport that killed two pilots. Reports describe Fréchette initially saying it was up to Air Canada’s board, then later calling for Rousseau’s resignation.
Roxham Road clash fuels heated exchange
Drainville also accused Fréchette of not pushing hard enough to shut down Roxham Road, the unofficial border crossing used by thousands of asylum seekers before it was closed to irregular migration in 2023. That line drew boos during the debate.
Fréchette replied that Drainville misrepresented her actions, saying she was involved in negotiations that led to the deal with the United States that allowed Canada to turn people back at unofficial crossings, ultimately closing the route. She argued she “got results” on immigration.
Endorsements, health care, and party unity
The leadership fight is also becoming a contest of caucus support. One report says Fréchette now has 37 CAQ MNAs backing her, compared to 15 for Drainville.
Fréchette picked up a prominent supporter just before the debate: former social services minister Lionel Carmant, who left the CAQ to sit as an independent in October after a dispute tied to Bill 2, which imposed a salary structure on doctors. Carmant said he would rejoin the CAQ caucus if Fréchette wins, though he has also said he will not run in the next election.
On health care, both signalled openness to more private involvement, with Fréchette pitching more home-care hours and better access to telemedicine. Drainville took a swipe at the telemedicine proposal, saying it was borrowed from the Quebec Liberal Party and that it’s an idea everyone already supports. Drainville, for his part, highlighted new backing from three members of the party’s youth wing, including its president and vice-president, and pointed to youth-driven measures he supported like banning cell phones in classrooms and adding school civility rules.
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