The Government of Quebec has released details of three pilot permanent immigration programs that will be implemented in early 2021.
Over the next 45 days, the government intends to gather comments on these programs before their official launch.
The three new permanent immigration pilot programs are the following:
• the pilot program for orderlies;
• the pilot program for workers in the artificial intelligence (AI), information technologies (IT) and visual effects sectors;
• the pilot program for workers in food processing (FP).
In addition, the government announced major improvements to the application intake process for the Program for Refugees Abroad, or Collective sponsorship, as well as new regulations for the Self-Employed Worker Program and the Entrepreneur Program.
New pilot programs are being implemented to attract and retain the workforce
Through these new pilot programs, the government of Quebec aims to attract and retain people whose skills meet the specific needs of the Quebec labour market and to address labour shortages in three key areas. The three pilot programs will come into effect after a 45-day consultation period.
The pilot program for orderlies will allow up to 550 principal applicants per year to be selected to work as nurse aides and beneficiary attendants in Quebec. Accompanying family members will also receive Quebec Selection Certificates under this program.
The pilot program for workers in food processing will provide a pathway to permanent immigration for temporary foreign workers working in the food processing sector. It will also be a five-year program under which up to 550 eligible workers and their families will be selected each year.
The third pilot program covers the artificial intelligence, information technology and visual effects sectors. Like the two previous pilot projects, it will also last five years and will select up to 550 people and their families.
The selection will be equally distributed between the artificial intelligence sector and the other two sectors. This pilot project is meant to both attract international talent working in these sectors and ensure the retention of those who are already in Quebec on a temporary basis.
Application processing times and immigration programs changes
Quebec has also released information related to the number of applications that will be received under economic immigration programs for the coming year. Here are the highlights:
A limit of 50 permanent selection applications has been set under the Self-Employed Program for the period from November 1, 2020, to September 30, 2021.
• A limit of 25 permanent selection applications will be accepted under the first stream of the Entrepreneur Program from November 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021.
• The second stream of the entrepreneur program is suspended for the next year so that it can be improved.
• The selection criteria in effect for immigration candidates who have filed an Expression of Interest in Arrima, Quebec’s immigration application management system, for selection under the Regular Skilled Worker Program have also been renewed and are in effect until November 1, 2021.
In addition, the government has introduced a new mechanism and a new intake period for applications under the Program for Refugees Abroad.
A maximum of 750 applications for group sponsorships of between two and five people will be accepted from April 6 to May 5, 2021.
Sponsorship applications must now be submitted online and will be randomly selected through a draw.
The intake of sponsorship applications for organizations is temporarily suspended until November 1, 2021, in order to complete criminal and administrative investigations due to allegations that call into question the integrity of the actions of certain refugee protection organizations.
Quebec extends immigration targets into 2021
Quebec could welcome between 44,500 and 47,500 immigrants in 2021.
The immigration targets for 2021 were announced as part of the Plan d’immigration du Québec 2021, released on October 29. This report coincides with IRCC’s announcement of its multi-year plan, which is expected this week to guide Canada’s immigration planning for 2021 to 2023.
In 2021, the majority of new admissions to Quebec — 62 per cent — are expected to come through the province’s economic immigration programs.
The province’s immigration ministry said its targets for 2021 also include a rebalancing plan “with the admission of an additional 7000 people, representing the deferment of some of the admissions that were not fulfilled in 2020 due to the health crisis.”
The new Quebec immigration levels represent a slight increase over its 2020 targets, when Quebec’s goal was to welcome between 43,000 and 44,500 immigrants.
The province also said that due to the health crisis, it estimates that the number of unrealized admissions in 2020 is expected to be between 13,000 and 18,000 but that plans to make up for the shortfall.
Quebec’s Admissions targets for 2021
For 2021, Quebec has set a range of between 27,500 and 29,300 new admissions for its economic immigration programs, including a maximum of 24,200 skilled workers.
The province has also set a maximum of 4,300 admissions for its business immigration programs, which include the Quebec Entrepreneur Program and the Quebec Self-Employed Worker Program.
In addition, a maximum of 800 admissions is set for “other economic categories” such as live-in caregivers and others.
Another 10,200 new permanent residents are expected to arrive through family sponsorship, refugee and other immigration programs.
Under the provisions of the Canada-Quebec Accord, Quebec has the power to select all Economic Class immigrants and certain refugees to the province.
Those selected are awarded a Quebec Selection Certificate (Certificat de sélection du Québec, or CSQ) and can then apply to Canada’s federal government for a permanent residence visa.
Quebec’s plan calls for issuing between 26,500 and 31,200 selection certificates in 2021 — slightly more than its plan for 2020, which had a range of 20,100 and 24,700.
The majority — up to 22,400 — would go to skilled worker candidates.
The selection certificate targets are as follows:
• Skilled workers: between 19,400 and 22,400;
• Business immigrants: between 1,500 and 2,300;
• Other economic immigrants: between 400 and 600;
• Refugees selected abroad: between 4,400 and 4,700;
• Other immigrants: between 800 and 1,200.
