The termination of a popular immigration initiative in Quebec has sparked frustration and anxiety among numerous newcomers. Responding to this, the City of Montreal has taken a firm position through a joint statement by Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada and interim Projet Montréal leader Ericka Alneus.
They are urging the Quebec government to provide exceptions and permit immigrants already settled in the province to apply to the now-defunct Programme de l’expérience québécoise (PEQ). This program previously offered a streamlined path to permanent residency for newcomers.
The Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government eliminated the program last November and has so far declined to grant exceptions for individuals who were residing in the province when it was discontinued.
Martinez Ferrada and Alneus will officially present their joint declaration at the city council meeting next Monday. The declaration calls on the Quebec government to promptly implement a clause for acquired rights for individuals already established in Quebec with temporary immigration permits when the PEQ was abolished.
Additionally, they advocate for the province to establish consistent and humane pathways to permanent residency for individuals who are already integrated and settled in Montreal. The formal request will be submitted to the province’s Immigration Ministry and the National Assembly.
Martinez Ferrada emphasized in an interview on CBC’s Breakaway that losing the PEQ program without any exemptions would have significant negative consequences for the city, resulting in a loss of valuable workforce and individuals proficient in French.
Numerous newcomers facing uncertainty about their future in the province have expressed their disappointment through various media outlets, feeling let down by the Quebec government’s refusal to grant exemptions.
Following the conclusion of the PEQ program, a new initiative known as the Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) has become the primary avenue for immigrants seeking to settle in Quebec for economic reasons. However, the PSTQ offers a more restricted route to permanent residency compared to the PEQ program.
Outgoing premier François Legault and Immigration Minister Jean-François Roberge have praised the PSTQ for providing the province with greater control over immigration, with a focus on applications from the health and education sectors and less emphasis on applications from the greater Montreal area.
Various mayors in the province, including Quebec City Mayor Bruno Marchand, have also voiced their concerns about the termination of the PEQ program in recent weeks.
