Closure of Roxham Road: “It's a great victory for Quebec”

Quebec Premier François Legault welcomed the announcement of the closure of Roxham Road, as part of an agreement between the United States and Canada.

“It’s a great victory for Quebec,” he said Friday at the end of the day, during a press briefing. The agreement providing for the closure of this irregular immigration route will be effective as of midnight this evening.

“You have before you a minister from Quebec who is happy to know that tonight at midnight, finally, Roxham Road will be closed,” said François Legault, all smiles.

The CAQ leader thanked the Quebec government team for their work that made this agreement a reality.

“We have worked very hard in the last few weeks to ensure that Mr. Trudeau puts this at the top of his pile in his priorities with Mr. Biden. I think it is important for Quebecers that this subject be addressed and eventually resolved,” he said.

François Legault also thanked the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau.

“When I don't agree, I say it, then I'm really happy with what he's telling us today,” he said.

“The people of Quebec will always remain welcoming”

If the closure of Roxham Road will hinder many undocumented immigrants trying to get to the Canadian soil, François Legault assured that Quebec had always been “welcoming” and that it will continue to be so.

“We are going to take our share of asylum seekers, of people who are badly caught in their country. It’s our humanitarian duty. Quebec will continue to do so,” he insisted.

The CAQ leader, however, indicated that he believed that Quebec had taken the lead in welcoming “a large number” of asylum seekers over the past year.

“I think there is some catching up to do so that there are more in the other provinces,” he said.