Quebec will welcome some 70,000 immigrants
The provincial government has outlined goals for accepting and selecting applications for immigration in 2022.
Quebec is optimistic about immigration. As Prime Minister François Legault has said, new residents are essential to solving the labour shortage.
On Oct. 28, the government released an immigration plan that intends to welcome between 49,500 and 52,500 newcomers in 2022, not including those 18,000 immigrants who could not come in 2020 because of the pandemic.
This year, the most popular immigration avenues were programs for skilled professionals, for specialists with experience working in Canada and for care professionals. These programs have brought 1,315 new permanent residents to Canada.
Through family sponsorship programs, another 7,325 immigrants became permanent residents of Quebec, and 1,315 arrived through programs for entrepreneurs, investors and self-employed.
Among the innovations, the premier proposed issuing temporary open work permits to those who applied for permanent residency as a qualified professional. These permits would be for two years and could be renewed for another year if the professional remains in Canada.
The provincial government has also announced a new way to gain permanent residency through the International Mobility Program. It will allow 7,000 professionals to be admitted without the need for a labour market impact assessment.
However, the Prime Minister has stated that the purpose of selection and admission will be in the interest of key sectors of the economy. And economic immigration will account for at least 65% of all immigration in 2022.
