The bill 9was introduced today in the National Assembly.
The goal of this bill is to establish the necessary legal basis for improving the francization and integration of selected candidates as well as a better alignment of Québec’s labour needs with the profile of selected candidates.
The main objectives of the bill are as follows:
Improving the selection of immigrants
For immigration to contribute significantly to growing Québec’s prosperity and better responding to job market needs, the Ministère would like to benefit more immediately from the new system for managing immigration applications based on the statement of interest. To do this, the bill proposes terminating most of the applications for which a decision has not yet been rendered under the Regular Skilled Worker Program and reimbursing the applicants in question so that from this point on all new applications occur by invitation of the Minister, following submission of a statement of interest.
This provision of the bill seeks, in particular, to:
• ensure a better alignment between job market needs and the profile of selected candidates;
• benefit more immediately from the new system for managing immigration applications based on the declaration of interest, by inviting candidates who meet Québec’s needs;
• reduce processing times for applications for permanent selection from skilled workers.
Note that applications for the addition of a spouse or a de facto spouse and applications for the addition of a child submitted by skilled workers who have already been selected are not targeted by this provision.
Improving the francization and integration of immigrants
The bill seeks to emphasize the importance of the process for integrating immigrants, in particular by clarifying the principle of the commitment shared between Québec society and immigrants. On the one hand, Québec society must be welcoming and inclusive and the government is responsible, in particular, for putting in place an effective and personalized offer of services for francization and integration. On the other, immigrants must commit to successfully carrying out the necessary steps for settling and integrating in Québec, including learning French as well as democratic values and Québec’s values, as set out in the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms.
Strengthening Québec’s actions in the area of immigration
The Ministère wishes to pursue its efforts to fully exercise its powers of selection, particularly with the reintroduction of the enabling power that allows the Québec government to determine by regulation the conditions for permanent residence that the Minister can impose on the candidates selected. Québec also wishes to expand its scope of intervention, by ensuring better follow-up of the clients that use the services offered by its many partners.
Public consultations on the bill will begin shortly and will enable stakeholders in the milieu, such as francization, integration and immigration law organizations, to voice their opinions on the new orientations proposed by the government.
For information on the details of Bill 9 and the public consultation, consult the National Assembly’s site.
