In recent years, immigration has become a delicate and complicated subject, not only for businesses, but also for the people of Quebec. It is true that immigration, regardless of whether it is economic or otherwise, is a complex issue where opinions are numerous and divergent.
Posted at 1:00 p.m.
Only in the past week has there been much debate over immigration thresholds in the media. Normally, these discussions would have been accompanied by public consultations over the summer to redefine the multi-year planning of immigration thresholds.
The Government of Quebec has decided to postpone this consultation until the beginning of 2023. Public policy on immigration has become the divisive subject par excellence.
Different figures linked to the threshold are even launched in the public space, with the sole purpose of striking the collective imagination. Some confront the data on the explosion of job vacancies and an aging demographic with a legitimate, but vague and obscure notion of integration capacity. To our knowledge, even if this expression is used all the time, it has never been explained and defined, let alone quantified.
In order to put an end to the polarization of such an important debate, it is essential to base our decisions on immigration on objective and above all transparent economic and social data.
We need to stop comparing economic data on labor needs to fluctuating perceptions based on political vagaries.
Let’s propose a clear definition of integration capacity. For us at the Federation of Quebec Chambers of Commerce, it is important to accurately assess the capacity to house, educate and francize this influx of immigrants and their families.
In this case, if some of the variables are deemed insufficient, this could guide public policies and government investments.
From the point of view of Quebec employers, a greater influx of immigrant workers is an absolute necessity. However, beyond the consecrated expressions, we need a serene and as depoliticized debate as possible on the issue. Once the findings have been brought to light, it will be up to the political parties to demonstrate their action plan to enhance this capacity for integration.