A fast track to permanent immigration applicable only to foreign students who studied in French is of great concern to McGill University, which believes that it is a two-tier system that will exclude students.
“Given that these people have a Quebec diploma, that they are young and that they have already lived here, in French, for several years, they constitute an exceptional pool from which to recruit new Quebecers,” writes the first Minister of Quebec, François Legault, in the consultation book on multi-year immigration planning, and by describing them as “ideal candidates”.
This provokes a reaction from McGill University, which teaches and researches mainly in English, and which believes that this approach will penalize foreign students “even if they can demonstrate excellent oral and written knowledge of French”.
“Our students risk losing from this exercise,” declared Fabrice Labeau, first associate executive vice-principal, studies and student life at McGill University, during his visit to the consultations Wednesday afternoon. With the proposed reform to the “graduates” component of the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ), a Quebec graduate will be able to submit an application for permanent residence upon completion of their studies instead of the current 12 or 18 months of work experience. required.
A fast track which is a “two-speed” system and which will exclude students, he believes. He cites as an example a McGill student from China who contacted him recently. At the same time, he takes French courses while studying in his full-time program in English, “to integrate into Quebec society”. “This student is now worried about his life plan in Quebec, which he has patiently built over the last few years,” he emphasizes.
A good part of its student population will consider other options than McGill University, cooled by the difficulties of establishing themselves in Quebec subsequently, fears Fabrice Labeau. “If we can relax the rules, we can work hard on francization,” he assures. The institution currently welcomes 12,000 international students, which represents 30% of its student population.
“Would it not be better to evaluate each immigration candidate individually rather than immediately indicating a preference for those who have followed a French-speaking program? », asks the institution in its memoir.
A passageway exists, says Fréchette
A passageway exists, the Minister of Immigration, Francisation and Integration, Christine Fréchette, insisted in response to the university’s concerns.
“Students who have obtained a diploma in a program in English will still have the possibility of applying for the graduate PEQ, if they have completed three years of study in French at the secondary or post-secondary level,” did she say. It is also possible for them to apply for permanent residence after one year of work experience and if they master French at the required level.
A response which did not seem to convince Fabrice Labeau, who for his part cited the attractiveness of universities. “Closing the door to the fast lane for them is a difficulty,” he said.