After insisting the federal government should reduce the number of temporary immigrants in Quebec, Minister Jean-François Roberge now believes Ottawa was too “tough” and acted “very clumsily” regarding the temporary foreign worker program, especially in the regions.

“Our regional economy is paying the price right now,” the minister said at a press briefing Thursday at the National Assembly.

Pressure is mounting on Quebec as businesses in the regions fear having to close due to labour shortages.

“We are asking Ottawa to protect temporary foreign workers who are in Quebec outside of Montreal and Laval. The grandfather clause is extremely important,” Minister Roberge maintained.

Last year, Ottawa imposed a 10 per cent limit on the number of low-wage temporary foreign workers a company can

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