Leaders’ debates quietly axes immigration from English program

The federal Leaders’ Debates Commission has axed the topic of immigration from the English-language debate on Thursday.

Source: True North

The federal Leaders’ Debates Commission has axed the topic of immigration from the English-language debate on Thursday.

Despite immigration being an election issue for voters across Canada, the topic will only be broached during the Francophone debate on Wednesday.

Organizers of the English-language debate, set for tomorrow, quietly dropped immigration from the list of approved topics.

No explanation has been given, meaning English-speaking Canadians will not hear federal leaders directly debate immigration policy ahead of the April 28 vote in their native language but will instead have to rely on live translations of the Francophone debate.

Immigration remains a top concern not only for Quebecers but, according to a Leger poll conducted for the Association for Canadian Studies, 65 per cent of Canadians say immigration levels are too high.

That number has risen steadily from just 35 per cent in 2019, marking one of the most dramatic shifts in public opinion in recent Canadian history.

Even among Canadians who identify as part of a visible minority, 38 per cent said they hold a negative view of immigration in Canada.

Among rural residents, nearly 70 per cent agreed immigration levels are too high, compared to 63 per cent of urban respondents.

The themes for the English debate—selected by a media consortium that includes CBC, CTV, Global News, APTN, CPAC, and TVO’s Steve Paikin—exclude immigration.

Instead, the topics will be affordability, energy, crisis leadership, public safety, and tariffs.

This omission is notable, particularly given Quebec’s prominent role in shaping this year’s immigration discourse.

Premier François Legault has called for more control over Quebec’s immigration, citing record numbers of non-permanent residents in the province and strain on housing and public services.

His government has placed a moratorium on temporary foreign workers in urban areas, slashed international student permits, and demanded that the next federal government impose stricter controls.

The federal Conservatives have pledged to reduce non-permanent residents and give Quebec more autonomy.

Mark Carney’s Liberals, the same party that championed mass immigration under former prime minister Justin Trudeau, now say they will hold levels steady until Canada has the “capacity” to integrate more. Despite all this, none of it will be discussed in English on the debate stage, the immigration issue will instead have a complete Quebec focus.