Quebec launches a heavy attack! Suspend two major immigration programs, significantly reducing the entry of permanent residents
In order to limit and control the number of new immigrants, the Quebec government announced on Thursday the suspension of two popular avenues for obtaining permanent residency, as part of the province's reassessment of its overall immigration strategy.
Quebec Immigration Minister Jean Fran ç ois Roberge announced on social media on Thursday that in the coming months, the Quebec government will stop issuing Quebec Choice Certificates (CSQs) to foreign students and economic immigrants who have applied for permanent residency through two programs, an important document in the immigration process.
The two suspended immigration routes are:
PEQ Dip ô m é s: an immigration program for foreign graduate students.
The PRTQ program, also known as the General Skilled Worker program, is the largest immigration program in Quebec province.
Both of these programs are important ways for international students to quickly obtain permanent resident status and will be frozen until June 30, 2025. In the long run, this move will lay the foundation for reducing the total number of immigrants entering Quebec, with a target of 50000 regular permanent immigrants by 2024.
Image source: John Mahoney /Montreal Gazette files
These two immigration programs cover about half of all permanent immigrants accepted in Quebec each year, and this decision means that those who have already participated in these programs will not be able to apply for a CSQ certificate.
1. International student immigration
The first is the PEQ program (PEQ Dip ô m é s) for foreign graduate students.
Last year, Quebec announced that those selected under the program would be drawn "consecutively" without a limit. He plans to recruit 6500 people annually.
Immigration Minister Jean Fran ç ois Roberge stated that due to "administrative" reasons, the number of immigrants this year is slightly lower than expected, but in 2025, "our immigration numbers are expected to be much higher than expected". We are exploring thousands of enrollments that exceed expectations.
In an interview, Roberge confirmed that the popularity of the project exceeded expectations. He said, 'We are making an important decision to suspend the acceptance of applications for the PEQ program.'.
2. Economic immigrants (foreign workers)
The suspension also applies to the largest economic immigration program: the General Skilled Worker Program (PRTQ). Therefore, the portion of the PEQ program for foreign workers who wish to permanently settle in Quebec (PEQ Workers) has also been suspended.
Last year, 25000 immigrants were granted entry into Quebec province under the PRTQ. In addition, nearly 5700 people have been approved through the PEQ program. This accounts for a large proportion of permanent residents in the economic category.
If you want to join the program, foreigners must submit a statement expressing their desire to work and live in Quebec. If his personal information meets the standards sought by the government, Quebec will send him an invitation to submit a permanent residency application.
However, according to the latest suspension order, Quebec will cease issuing invitations to these individuals.
The government hopes to control the number of permanent residents
Roberge announced the news on the same day that the National Assembly released the Quebec 2025 immigration forecast. The plan states that by 2025, Quebec will accept a total of 48500 to 51500 permanent immigrants.
Adding the 15000 students in the PEQ program, this year's new forecast is about 66500 people.
If the 'suspension order' is not implemented, the total number of PEQ programs (excluding temporary immigrants) will be higher. Before taking action in Quebec, this number had been soaring. Now, it is expected that the number of international students will decrease from 15000 to 19000 to 13500 to 15000 by 2025.
Among the total, 31000 to 32900 people are considered economic immigrants and may be affected by this new change.
Another 10200 to 10600 people will be approved through Quebec's family reunification program, a number that has remained unchanged for several years; In addition, the total number of refugees will be between 6600 and 7200.
Roberge also announced that in future immigration forecasts, Quebec will begin to include temporary immigrants in its plans, a long-standing demand from Quebec's opposition party.
Only a year ago, former immigration minister Christine Fr é chette opposed this idea because it implied the existence of a 'ceiling'. There are approximately 600000 temporary immigrants in Quebec province, double the number from two years ago.
For several months, Quebec has been pressuring the federal government to reduce this total.
The move by Quebec was made after the federal government decided to reduce the total number of new permanent immigrants entering the country.
Image source: Immigration News Canada
Three weeks ago, Roberge proposed legislation aimed at limiting the enrollment of international students. Prior to this, Quebec announced another ban on low paid temporary workers in August.
On Monday of this week, the Quetzalcoaths presented their plan to reduce the number of permanent residents to 35000 per year.
The government has implemented a 180 degree turn towards economic immigration outside of Quebec, while also imposing a ban on the PEQ program, which covers some Quebec immigration applicants
Quebec MP Marc Tanguay also strongly criticized this sudden change, stating that this statement will harm the businesses that need these workers.
The family reunion immigration and refugee program in Quebec is not affected by this strategic shift.
Source link:
https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/quebec-will-slap-moratorium-on-two-immigration-programs-in-2025
https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/politique/2024-10-30/quebec-suspend-deux-programmes-d-immigration.php