Quebec Launches 6 New Regional Plans to Improve Settlement Services for Immigrants

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"According to Quebec Immigration’s website, Quebec recently launched 6 new regional plans to provide improved settlement services to new immigrants. These settlement plans will be operated by the regional networks of the immigration department in collaboration with its economic, community, and municipal partners."

Written by My Visa Source Team
Published on: Sep 20, 2021

According to Quebec Immigration’s website, Quebec recently launched 6 new regional plans to provide improved settlement services to new immigrants. These settlement plans will be operated by the regional networks of the immigration department in collaboration with its economic, community, and municipal partners.

Quebec has been facing an acute shortage of labor, forcing many businesses to remain closed for some days a week due to a lack of staff. Immigration is the only way to fill these labor shortages and recover Quebec’s economy.

The ongoing coronavirus disrupted the labor market and greatly affected immigrants and new permanent residents in the province. Therefore, the province feels it is high time to provide improved settlement services to help them integrate better into society.

What Are the Regional Plans Introduced by Quebec Immigration?

The regional plans have been developed for the following regions to improve the settlement services provided to new immigrants:

Greater Quebec city and the eastern region of Quebec
Eastern Townships and the central part of Quebec
Mauricie
Laval, the Laurentians, and the de Lanaudière region, starting from the Saint Lawrence River north of Montreal to the Laurentians
Montérégie- the area including Boucherville, Brossard, Granby, Longueuil, Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Saint-Hyacinthe, Sorel-Tracy and Vaudreuil-Dorion
Great Montreal area
Northern and Western parts of Quebec

What Are the Regional Plans?

The Regional Action Plans for 2021-22 will set out the objectives and priorities for the new initiatives. They will identify unique solutions and guidelines for local immigration departments. Quebec needs to attract and retain immigrants in the province to ensure the availability of skilled labor for businesses to function. Recently, Quebec doubled the limit of foreign workers that Quebec businesses are allowed to hire in some sectors of the economy. This limit was increased to 20% from 10% for hiring foreign workers through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).

Currently, Quebec is offering a Temporary Open Work Permit for skilled workers who have already applied for permanent residence. These work permits will be valid for 2 years and be eligible for renewable for another additional year. These work permits will also be available for accompanying spouses of primary applicants.

Quebec also launched a new immigration pathway known as the International Mobility Program to invite 7,000 foreign workers without requiring a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).