Quebec immigration minister under investigation for alleged ethics breach

Quebec Minister Responsible Minister of Immigration, Francization and Integration Jean-Francois Roberge responds to the Opposition during question period at the legislature in Quebec City, Tuesday, March 24, 2026 (Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press)

Quebec’s immigration minister says he will fully collaborate with an investigation by the legislature’s ethics commissioner into whether he violated conflict of interest rules.

Jean-Francois Roberge is being investigated for allegedly sharing data produced by his department with the two Coalition Avenir Quebec leadership candidates -- Bernard Drainville and Christine Frechette.

Drainville had boasted in a Journal de Montreal article and online that the Immigration Department had confirmed his policy would result in 18,000 temporary foreign workers being grandfathered into a fast-track residency program that had been closed.

La Presse has reported that the analysis conducted by Roberge’s office indicated Frechette’s plan would open permanent residency to between 123,00 and 126,800 immigrants.

The Liberals and Quebec solidaire accused Roberge of violating the part of the ethics code that bars elected officials from disclosing information that is not generally available to the public to further the personal interests of themselves or others.

In a statement to The Canadian Press, Roberge confirmed he was under investigation and planned to collaborate with the office of the ethics watchdog.

He did not say whether he shared the information with Drainville and Frechette.

Drainville and Frechette are squaring off in a race to replace outgoing Premier Francois Legault.

Voting is already underway and the winner is expected to be confirmed on April 12.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on April 7, 2026.