Kathleen Weil, Quebec immigration minister, announced the granting of additional 4 million loans in 2016-2017, to increase and expand the offer of services in French language to immigrants, and $ 700,000 for measures to promote the withholding of international students in Quebec. These additional funds are part of an investment of $ 18.4 million for the next five years to encourage the rapid integration of immigrants in the labor market and Quebec civilization.
This is in addition to the investments already planned in the Budget 2015-2016 to apply the Action Strategy that accompanies the Québec Policy on immigration, " Together we are the Quebec" project was published on March 7 and with a budget of $ 42.5 million over five years.
French knowledge of Immigrants who choose Quebec has been increased over the last 20 years. As a matter of fact immigrants who know French at admission have almost doubled over the past 20 years.
Additional credits of this budget will be allocated to promote French language more than $ 70 million which is a record high .The resources will be used in particular to ensure promoting French learning for refugees as well as new immigrants.
The main focus of the Quebec new project is the transition from temporary immigration to permanent immigration of temporary foreign workers and foreign students and is at the heart of the current reform of the immigration system announced by the Minister.
"Quebec is an important university destination. Every year our colleges and universities welcome a diverse student population, which represents a source of creativity and innovation that our companies will want to benefit in the current context of globalization. In this perspective, however, requires that these young people everywhere choose to study not only in Quebec but also to settle there.
Indeed, as temporary workers involved in the growth of our businesses, international students represent prime candidates for permanent immigration, since they speak French, know Quebec and are already integrated into our society and our labor market, "said the minister.
At the same time Quebec is focusing on entrepreneur applicants who wish to start or establish their business in Quebec .Entrepreneurship can facilitate the integration of immigrants into Quebec society and enhance the skills acquired in their home country.
According to the proposed project Quebec will develop new tools, from research, to foster entrepreneurship as a means of integration of newly arrived immigrants.
