In the initial stages of the provincial election campaign, Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon showcased the Roger-Comtois High School in Quebec City to illustrate his party’s stance on reducing immigration levels. He highlighted how the school had to introduce 24 modular classrooms due to overcrowding, attributing the issue to Quebec’s immigration capacity being overwhelmed. St-Pierre Plamondon later drew a parallel between immigration and the housing crisis, criticizing the policies under the CAQ government, particularly during Christine Fréchette’s tenure as immigration minister.
While the Parti Québécois linked immigration to school overcrowding and housing challenges during its campaign, experts consulted by CBC pointed out that while a surge in immigration does impact supply and demand, longstanding trends also play a significant role in these issues.
Statistics Canada data shows a rise in new immigrants in Quebec during Justin Trudeau’s administration, with a notable increase in temporary immigration post-COVID-19. The Association québécoise du personnel de direction des écoles noted that the influx of first-generation immigrant students has exacerbated school overcrowding in regions like Quebec City and Montérégie. However, the association’s president, André Bernier, emphasized that overcrowding predated the recent immigration surge and is prevalent in regions with lower immigration rates.
Regarding the housing crisis, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation acknowledged a connection between immigration and vacancy rates. Nonetheless, Olivier Jacques from the Université de Montréal highlighted that multiple factors contribute to the housing crisis, including federal government measures benefiting homeowners, insufficient new housing construction, and a lack of investment in social or affordable housing. He emphasized the need for increased social housing initiatives to address affordability issues.
The Comité d’Action de Parc-Extension criticized the focus on “condo” style rentals in new construction projects, arguing that such developments do not meet the needs of most residents. The committee’s coordinator, Amy Darwish, criticized the tendency of political parties to blame immigrants for societal issues, stressing the importance of investing in social housing, implementing rent control measures, and protecting tenants to enhance housing affordability.
