Quebec releases its immigration plan for 2023

Overall admissions are essentially unchanged from 2022 in all categories. According to the province's immigration plan for 2023, which was unveiled on December 8, up to 52,500 new permanent residents could be admitted in that year. The immigration strategy for 2022 has the exact same goal in mind.

In 2023, the province's economic immigration initiatives, such as the Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP) and the Québec Experience Program, will account for the majority of new admissions (PEQ). The updated strategy adheres to the goals set during the public consultation held as part of the Quebec Immigration Planning for the years 2020–2022, which took place in the summer of 2019.

The economic group, which has a maximum objective of 33,900, has the highest percentage of entrants—more than 65% of all newcomers. In this category, the province aims to welcome up to 29,500 skilled employees and up to 4,300 business immigrants, who would include investors, entrepreneurs, and the self-employed.

The remaining 18,100 new permanent residents are anticipated to come through various immigration programs for refugees, family reunification, and other groups.

Quebec’s immigration plan is issued each year by the province’s Immigration Department. The document specifies the categories in which the province will admit the amount of new permanent residents it plans to accept in the upcoming year. To date, plans have been presented defining aims for only the coming year. However, a consultation will be held in 2023 after which the province will draught a multi-year plan that will start in 2024.

Concentrate on immigrants who speak French

The Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) won a second term as the country's governing party earlier this year with a solid majority, hence the 2023 plan remains quite close to the 2022 plan. After lowering admission targets in 2019, the 2022 plan, developed under the direction of the current premier François Legault, sought to gradually raise the number of newcomers. The CAQ implemented a 20% cutoff that year to enhance the selection and francization of newcomers to Quebec.

One of the key cornerstones of the CAQ party is to maintain the French language in Quebec and the new plan concentrates on selecting immigrants who already speak French. In 2023, 79% of economic immigrants and 66% of immigrants, in general, are expected to be fluent in French, according to the Ministry of Immigration, Francization, and Integration.

The issue of immigration in Quebec was heavily discussed during the provincial election this year. Legault pledged during his campaign to limit immigration to Quebec to 50,000 per year while in office. He claims that given the difficulty of integrating newcomers into Quebec society, particularly those who must acquire French, this is the highest number of immigrants that Quebec can support.

Quebec's distinctive immigration policy

The only province in Canada that publishes a yearly strategy for immigration levels is Quebec. Additionally, it is the only province whose admissions for economic immigration are completely under its control. Quebec has greater control over its immigration policies, largely as a result of the establishment of its own immigration ministry there in 1968.

Up until more than 20 years later, in 1991, when the Quebec-Canada Accord gave the province the authority to set its own admission targets, the province persisted in calling for greater control over immigration.

Nevertheless, immigration is a joint duty between the federal and provincial governments, and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) have the last say on all admissions, regardless of the category of immigration. Quebec chooses the skilled workers it wants to admit.

ways to move to Quebec

The federal and provincial governments must both approve any applicant for immigration to Quebec. Quebec selects skilled immigrants according to its own criteria and procedures and candidates must apply directly to the province through one of its immigration programs.

Candidates who complete program requirements and are chosen by Quebec will be given a Certificat de sélection du Québec, along with any accompanying families (CSQ). The Ministry of Immigration, Francisation, and Integration of Quebec issued this document.

After receiving a CSQ, a candidate must apply to IRCC for permanent residence and pass the required security, criminal background, and medical tests.

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