Immigration and the CAQ race: Drainville accuses Fréchette of lying

Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ) leadership candidates Christine Frechette and Bernard Drainville shake hands prior to taking part in a leadership debate in Laval, Que., Saturday, March 28, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Tensions are rising in the CAQ leadership race. Bernard Drainville has accused his rival, Christine Fréchette, of stating the “opposite of the truth” regarding the number of permanent residents she would be willing to accept.

In February, Christine Fréchette said she wanted to reinstate the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) for a two-year period to provide a “grandfather clause” for immigrants who were present in Quebec at the time of its closure.

La Presse reported Wednesday morning that this proposal would allow between 123,800 and 126,800 immigrants to obtain permanent residency. Meantime, Drainville is proposing “a limited acquired right.”

Immigration Minister Jean-François Roberge had the two candidates’ scenarios evaluated.

During the second debate between the two candidates, Drainville said Roberge had told him his proposal would result in 18,000 new permanent residents. Fréchette declined to reveal her numbers, stating that she would adhere to the threshold of 45,000 permanent residents per year.

According to Drainville, his rival refused to reveal her numbers because “she knows it’s astronomical.”“Imagine yourself in a leaders’ debate. Imagine yourself in an election campaign, giving the wrong figure and then getting caught. I think she has really, really undermined her candidacy,” he explained.

On Wednesday, Fréchette said she had “always been clear.”

“If I become leader of the CAQ, I will respect the cap of 45,000 immigrants per year. Period,” she stated on social media platform X.

“The PEQ was closed too quickly. My proposal aims to offer a transition period for people who were planning to apply under this program. The ‘first-come, first-served’ rule will continue to apply to the PEQ until the cap is reached. Obviously, we won’t be able to welcome everyone,” she added.

- This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on April 1, 2026.