In a cry from the heart addressed to the leaders of the main political parties in Quebec, the employers’ associations asked to raise the immigration threshold from 50,000 to 80,000 per year. At the same time, in a parliamentary committee, the Minister of Immigration and Employment, Jean Boulet, dashed this hope by reiterating that his government was not going to welcome more immigrants.
“There is no question of changing or increasing the thresholds that have been established in the multi-year plan. We have gone from 40,000 to 52,000 and we still have integration problems, ”answered Jean Boulet to a question from the deputy of Quebec solidaire, Andrés Fontecilla, citing as an example the unemployment rate of 13% among immigrants. , which is above average. “Too many people still live and settle in Montreal [et ne travaillent pas] “, he said, pointing out that there are many job opportunities in the region.
The thresholds having been the obsession of the opposition during this parliamentary committee, Mr. Boulet was profusely hounded on the question. “Do you agree with thresholds ranging from 100,000 to 120,000 immigrants per year in Quebec? “Asked him the member of the Parti Québécois, Pascal Bérubé. “No”, replied the minister, categorically. He also indicated that the thresholds are established “according to the reception capacity” and that they are “completely compatible with the reality that we want. »
“We have to catch up”
At the end of their pre-election meeting with party leaders in Quebec City on Thursday, the Conseil du patronat, supported by the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec (FCCQ) and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), publicly urged the future government to raise its immigration thresholds to 80,000, from 2023 until 2026. today,” said Karl Blackburn, Chairman of the Employers’ Council. This request is even greater than that made three years ago.
Citing the analysis of the Ministry of Employment in 2017, 1.4 million workers will have to be drawn from different “pools” such as students, people far from the labor market (people with disabilities, criminals, etc.) and immigrants. These would account for 22% of the needs to be met, or 64,000 immigrants per year. However, when it came to power, the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ) lowered the thresholds for the Liberals, which were approximately 50,000 to 40,000, and then gradually increased them.
In support of the employers’ request, Manufacturers and Exporters of Quebec (MEQ) would like to go even further. “We would be more than 90,000 [immigrants] said President and CEO Véronique Proulx. She argues that in recent years, the labor shortage has cost manufacturers $18 billion, including having to turn down international contracts. Commissioned by the CFIB, a Léger poll conducted last month with more than 1,000 respondents found that the population supports businesses, with 68% asking for help, regardless of the sector.
A quick access route for temporary workers
Another priority demand among the 16 recommendations made by the employers’ representatives: that of setting up a rapid access route to permanent immigration for temporary workers. “It would provide access to skilled workers in the regions,” insisted Véronique Proulx.
In parliamentary committee, Minister Jean Boulet affirmed that not all temporary workers want to settle here permanently but that if they want to, they can do so via the programs available to them, including the the Quebec experience (PEQ). However, it has been reformed by the CAQ and the delays before qualifying for it have increased, recalled MP Andrés Fontecilla.
Minister Boulet was also extensively questioned about the long delays in obtaining permanent residence, which are 31 months on average for some 30,000 people wishing to live in Quebec, compared to approximately 27 months in the rest of Canada, a recent increase in a period that has long been 6 months. “I don’t want to look like I’m constantly throwing the ball back into the Ottawa court but deadlines are [eux] “, did he declare.
He acknowledged that some would-be immigrants go to Ontario and says he constantly talks about this problem, and others, with his federal counterpart, Sean Fraser. “What irritates me the most are the 24,000 skilled workers who are already in Quebec, who work, speak French and who are waiting for their permanent residence,” the minister said indignantly.