November 10th, 2024

Quebec freezes two major immigration streams, citing pressure on services


By Joe Bongiorno, The Canadian Press on October 31, 2024.

Quebec wants to freeze two immigration programs to reduce the number of permanent immigrants settling in the province by 2025. Immigration Minister Jean-François Roberge holds a press conference concerning the Plan for the French language in Montreal, Sunday, April 28, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

MONTREAL – The Quebec government has suspended applications for permanent residency from two immigration streams because it says it can no longer accommodate the rising number of newcomers.

Immigration Minister Jean-François Roberge said today the government has frozen the Quebec Experience Program, a path for permanent residency for foreign students who have graduated in the province.

Roberge says the government is also suspending applications from the Regular Skilled Worker Program.

The two immigration streams were suspended today and will be frozen until June 2025 at the latest.

In August, Quebec announced a six-month freeze for certain temporary foreign worker applications in Montreal, and in October the government introduced legislation to cap the number of international students in the province.

Quebec has tussled with Ottawa over immigration in recent months, asking for more power to decide who can settle in the province, and demanding Ottawa forcibly relocate asylum seekers to other parts of the country.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 31, 2024.

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