Most of the three-year plan would restore immigration to 2018 after this year’s 20% cut.
This would translate into an increase of 10,500 newcomers to Quebec from the maximum of 42,000 this year and mark an approximate return to the level of immigration that was in place prior to the October 2018 election of the new Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government.
The proposals put forward will form the basis for public immigration hearings beginning on 12 August.
As part of an election commitment to tackle issues that newcomers are not integrating into the majority French-speaking province, the CAQ implemented a temporary decrease in their immigration rates late last year.
The proposals released by the Immigration Ministry (MIDI) of the province said the decrease was essential to revamp the inclusion programs and facilities of the province.
The foundations for these reforms are now in place, MIDI said, but there are no real policies and programs to implement them and achieve their objectives.
“For this reason, Quebec envisage a gradual increase in the range of 3,000 to 4,000 new admissions per year (between 2020 and 2022) to enable both state and civil society actors to provide the province with all immigrants with the tools they need to integrate successfully into the society.”
The government’s goal is to attain between 49,500 and 52,500 immigration levels by 2022. Of this amount, 65% would be chosen through the economic-class immigration programs in Quebec compared to 59% this year.
Other suggestions described in the document include:
Favour foreign employees and foreign nationals with a degree in Quebec who fulfil the labour market requirements of the province and who already live in Quebec as temporary inhabitants
Favour qualified candidates with on-demand training or a validated work offer that meets the requirements of the short-term labour market in Quebec
To accelerate the arrival of economic-class immigrants to react more rapidly to the labor requirements of Quebec
To support attempts by employers in all areas of Quebec to hire temporary overseas employees by decreasing delays before their arrival and to enable processes to satisfy the requirements of the workforce. Short-term employment
Promoting the selection of immigrants who understand the democratic values of Quebec and the principles enshrined in the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms of Quebec ;
Increasing the amount of adults who talk French by extending access to government-run French language training
Encourage permanent youth immigration to counter the ageing and declining population of the province.
