Diversity debate: Poll shows sharp divide between Montreal and regions

As politicians spar over whether a woman in a hijab can be a police officer, details from a Léger poll reveal a deep divide between multicultural Montreal and the rest of Quebec on immigration.

“There’s a Montreal vs. Quebec divide. There’s also a divide in Montreal between francophones and non-francophones,” said Jack Jedwab, executive director of the Association for Canadian Studies.

Last week, a Léger poll for the LCN television network showed the Coalition Avenir Québec is ahead in voter intentions with 34 per cent, compared with 29 per cent for the Liberals, 21 per cent for the Parti Québécois and nine per cent for Québec solidaire.

It also showed Quebecers are split on immigration, with 44 per cent saying it should be curbed, while 38 per cent want to keep it at the current level and 15 per cent would like to increase it.