Too little for SMEs affected by labor shortage, according to CFIB
“The issue of labor shortages is so acute in Quebec that a significant number of SMEs say they are at risk if it persists. In its Wednesday announcement, the Quebec government took a small step forward on the total number of permanent immigrants. But it also takes a step backwards by imposing new constraints on SMEs regarding the knowledge of French for temporary workers,” comments François Vincent, vice-president for Quebec at the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), which has 21,000 members in Quebec.
“For the CFEI, the preferred path is to accentuate francization incentive programs and not to create new constraints for SMEs. We are worried about the impact this will have on Quebec SMEs, whose confidence is at its lowest in the country due to labor shortages. »
Partial response to the needs of the labor market, according to the Employers’ Council
With the threshold of 50,000 immigrants per year, “the Quebec government is missing a great opportunity to address, with employers, the labor shortage,” according to Karl Blackburn, president and CEO of the Council of Quebec Employers (CPQ).
“The plan announced Wednesday by the Minister of Immigration [Christine Fréchette] does not take into account the needs of the labor market while Quebec companies refuse contracts and cancel investments for lack of workers. »
According to the president of the CPQ, “these labor needs which are based on data from the Ministry of Employment should be equivalent to 84,000 immigrants per year, which would be equivalent to a quarter (24%) of the 1 .6 million positions to be filled by 2031.”
An immigration threshold too low, according to the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal
“Quebec is facing a serious labor shortage which affects all sectors, both businesses and public services. Since 2016, we have called for raising immigration thresholds to 60,000 per year; an objective whose relevance the Quebec government had recently recognized,” recalls Michel Leblanc, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal (CCMM).
Consequently, “we are disappointed to see that the government has not adopted this scenario. In doing so, we continue to deprive ourselves of the help we need to reduce pressure on our economy.”
That said, the Chamber of Commerce welcomes the fact that graduates from abroad who will take advantage of the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) to pursue their career in Quebec will be excluded from the calculation of immigration thresholds.
“It is a strategic choice that will increase the availability of well-trained talent, for the benefit of all Quebecers,” according to Michel Leblanc.
A “missed opportunity,” according to Quebec Manufacturers and Exporters
An immigration threshold set at 50,000 people per year “does not meet the needs of manufacturers and the Quebec economy,” according to the Manufacturers and Exporters of Quebec (MEQ) association.
“The Quebec government is unfortunately proposing to stand still. Quebec’s economy will suffer from this missed opportunity,” considers Véronique Proulx, President and CEO of MEQ.
“This threshold [de 50 000 immigrants] will not give the necessary room to maneuver to manufacturing companies throughout the region which are experiencing a significant labor shortage which affects them daily. These companies will still have to refuse contracts or slow down strategic investments while Quebec’s economy has been running on empty for almost a year. »
Regrettable change of direction, according to the Federation of Chambers of Commerce
The Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Quebec “regrets the change of course by the government which announced a maintenance of current immigration thresholds for two years, even after having held a consultation which was to result in an ambitious vision for the coming years.”
According to Charles Milliard, CEO of the Federation, “the expectations of employers facing a labor shortage were high, and the announcement [de mercredi] will not help Quebec businesses.”
However, recalls Mr. Milliard, “we welcomed the government’s openness in order to address the real problems of our approach to immigration. Also, the government has invested hundreds of millions of dollars to improve the reception capacity of Quebec and its regions, while correcting the shortcomings in the francization pathways of immigrants.
“But by calling for the status quo of immigration thresholds,” laments Charles Milliard, “we understand that the government does not have confidence in the measures it itself has put in place since 2018.”