Why Separate Programs for Quebec?

In a survey, many immigrants were asked to pick one province in Canada. The vast majority of immigrants responded with Quebec (29%) or Ontario (26%). This is not surprising. Quebec has the second-highest GDP per capita and is the only province in Canada with a triple-A credit rating from Standard and Poor’s, meaning that it has the economic capacity to pay back its debts. As a result, Quebec has a debt-to-GDP ratio of 21%, the lowest in the country.

History of Quebec

Jacques Cartier originally founded Quebec in 1534 as the French colony of New France. It was the New World’s first French Catholic centre, and it supplied the Old World with furs through the trapping trade. Britain, which was always at odds with France, colonised the territories around New France. In return for Guadalupe, the Quebec Act of 1774 transferred the territory to the British colonies. Until 1841, the French-Canadians were allowed to keep their language, religion, and culture and were largely left to their own devices. Following an insurrection, the province was completely embraced by Canada, a burgeoning nation. Quebec spearheaded Canada’s industrial revolution in the nineteenth century. The Saint-Lawrence River helped trade across the country and the region. Quebec, like the rest of Canada, has had its economic ups and downs, but it remains an important part of the country’s economy. Quebec in Canada currently has its own immigration legislation and provincial immigration department.

Why separate programs for Canada Quebec immigration?

In 1968, Québec approved an act respecting the Ministère des Communautés culturelles et de l’Immigration, which formed a ministry and outlined the Minister’s responsibilities in regard to immigrants seeking to enter the province.

The Canada-Quebec Accord of 1991 allowed the French-speaking province the authority to determine its own immigration policy with little federal involvement. Quebec being the only province in Canada with French as its official language and a predominantly French-speaking region, several distinct programs have been developed for the Quebec region.

Programs managed under the Quebec immigration program

Many of the programs require candidates to be fluent in French because Quebec is a French-speaking province. In general, the Quebec Ministry of Immigration (MIFI) chooses candidates who can demonstrate their command of the French language. In addition, Quebec has used its policy-making ability to create and manage immigration programs in the province.

The programs are:

• Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSW)
• Quebec Experience Program (QEP)
• Quebec Business Program
• Quebec Investor Program
• Quebec Entrepreneur Program
• Quebec Self-Employment Program

What are the requirements for the qualifying Quebec immigration Program?

In order to qualify for the Quebec immigration program are:

Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSW)

Applicants for this program type must have a minimum of 5 years of work experience and fulfil the minimum QSW point-based system criteria. Although it is not required to be proficient in French to participate in this program, if you are, you will get additional points.

Quebec Experience Program (QEP)

It’s a Quebec Permanent Residence program for people working as temporary employees and international students studying in Canada. However, in order to participate in this program, you must have advanced French language abilities. Besides that, several additional program criteria must be satisfied.

Quebec Business Program

There are 3 different types managed under this program. They are:

Quebec Investor Program

This program requires applicants to have at least CAD 2 million in net assets and the ability to invest CAD 1.2 million with a Quebec financial intermediary.

Quebec Entrepreneur Program

Applicants must have a net worth of CAD 900,000 and experience managing a business initiative in Quebec to be considered for this program.

Quebec Self-Employment Program

It is a Quebec immigration program that permits self-employed persons to start their own businesses. Applicants must have a minimum of CAD 100,000 and two years of experience as self-employed employees to be considered for this program.

An applicant must fulfil the eligibility criteria according to the program type. However, the eligibility criteria in general involve:

• Work Experience
• Language proficiency
• Education
• Age
• Connections in Quebec
• Valid Job Offer
• Accompanying Spouse/Common-law partner
• Employability Eligibility Score
• Children
• Settlement Funds (varies between program types)

What are the benefits of applying under the Quebec immigration program?

The benefit of applying for the Quebec immigration program is that this immigration program runs on its own point system distinct from other immigration programs of Canada. Besides that, these programs give more benefits to those who can demonstrate their knowledge of the French Language. Quebec also selects refugees and has its own financial sponsorship requirements.

Quebec benefits from Canada’s numerous economic programs and fundings, both globally and domestically, while managing a variety of selected programs. Federal officials conduct investigations and enforcement actions at home, including exams at ports of entry. In the case of immigrants to Quebec, Canadian embassies work together with Quebec. From Canadian postings where the applications may have originated, files are sent to the Quebec offices. Prospective immigrants are sent between offices after a jurisdiction screens them on behalf of the other. Medical screening, as well as criminal and security checks, are conducted under government oversight.

Overall, Quebec accepted over 250,000 permanent immigrants between 2015 and 2019. In addition, thousands of temporary foreign workers are also hosted in the province each year, with three-quarters of them finding work in the Montreal metropolitan region.