As a matter of fact, during this year’s provincial election, immigration in Quebec was a much-debated topic. In fact, as part of his campaign, Legault committed to allowing only 50,000 newcomers into Quebec a year throughout his term. The Premier argued that this is the largest number of immigrants Quebec can accommodate as it is difficult to integrate newcomers into Quebec society, particularly those who need to learn French. This was in tandem with the 2022 plan that was set out under the premier that aimed to gradually increase the number of newcomers after reducing admission targets back in 2019. Under the plan, a 20 % decrease was introduced that year by the CAQ to improve the selection and francization of newcomers to Quebec. This is set to be carried into the 2023 plan and shape most of the immigration policies after the CAQ won a second term as the governing party, with a strong majority.
The Quebec Immigration Plan for 2023
Immigration Plan for 2023 is a provincial program that provides skilled workers with an opportunity to obtain permanent residency in Canada. The program aims to attract foreign nationals with the skills and experience that will contribute to the economic growth of Quebec province staying true to the targets established during the public consultation held in the summer of 2019 as part of Quebec Immigration Planning for the 2020-2022 period.
The Quebec Immigration Plan for 2023, released on December 8, shows that the province could admit up to 52,500 new permanent residents in 2023. This target is precisely the same as the immigration plan for 2022. According to the plan, most new admissions to Quebec in 2023 will come through the province’s economic immigration programs, including the Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP) and the Québec experience program (PEQ). With a maximum target of 33,900, the economic category represents over 65% of planned admissions making it the largest proportion of newcomers. In this category, the province expects to welcome up to 29,500 skilled workers and up to 4,300 business immigrants, which would include investors, entrepreneurs, and the self-employed. The remaining 18,100 new permanent residents are expected to arrive through family reunification, refugees, and other immigration programs.
