By Canadian Press

Coalition Avenir Quebec loses vote on student immigration plan despite majority

Nov 7, 2019 | 7:52 AM

QUEBEC — It was a difficult day Wednesday on the immigration front for the governing Coalition Avenir Quebec.

After the government was forced to backtrack partly on immigration reforms that would have forced many foreign students to leave the province, opposition parties were able to adopt a motion calling on the government to rescind the plan altogether.

The motion moved by the Opposition Liberals passed late Wednesday when the Coalition Avenir Quebec didn’t have enough members in the chamber.

It states the government reforms are harmful and demands that the government revert to the previous, less restrictive rules.

While the motion isn’t binding, it was another sting on the file for the government of Premier Francois Legault, which holds 75 of the 125 seats in the national assembly.

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Legault told reporters today the government has no intention of heeding the opposition motion.

Legault says the government acted out of compassion Wednesday when it announced foreign students already participating in the program would not be affected by the changes.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 7, 2019.

The Canadian Press