Quebec Invests $10 Million in Immigration Research Project

Last Updated On 29 April 2023, 8:58 AM EDT (Toronto Time)

Quebec has announced a $10 million investment to study immigration-related matters in the francophone province.

The funding will be provided by the province’s immigration department, the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI), over two years, starting this fiscal year.

The research projects themselves will be conducted over the coming five years and will be financed through Quebec’s non-profit organization, the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et culture (FRQSC), which funds societal and cultural research projects.

Provincial Immigration Minister Christine Fréchette expressed her excitement over the partnership with FRQSC, saying, “I am very happy to announce this partnership with the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et culture which will address the needs expressed by so many stakeholders in Quebec to identify the factors which enhance the attraction, retention, and the experiences of immigrants in all Quebec’s regions.” She added, “This agreement will provide MIFI with the necessary information to put in place innovative programs adapted to the reality and needs of immigrants in Quebec.”

How will the funds be spent?

Quebec’s immigration department has stated that the specific details of how the funds will be spent will be revealed once the FRQSC starts issuing requests for research proposals.

However, the department has mentioned that there will be two streams of research. 

The first stream will examine cross-cultural practices and the sense of belonging immigrants have for the regions in which they live and the province of Quebec. 

The second stream will look at the migratory patterns of immigrants within Canada, the factors which enhance the attraction and retention of immigrants, their willingness to settle in regions, the existing linguistic dynamics, and the capacity of the province to welcome immigrants.

Quebec sets a new record for permanent and temporary residents in the past year

Rémi Quirion, the chief scientist of Quebec, stated ‘This support for immigration research by MIFI is an excellent opportunity to contribute to the advancement of our knowledge of this societal challenge, to develop the next generation of researchers interested in this subject, and, in doing so, elaborate on the public policies with regards to settlement services and the integration of immigrants, in French, to Quebec’.

According to the latest data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the province saw a record-breaking number of new permanent residents and temporary foreign workers last year, with 68,705 and 89,765 individuals, respectively.

The province welcomed 51,260 foreign nationals through the International Mobility Program (IMP), which is almost 18.4% more than in 2021, and a record-breaking 38,505 through the Temporary Foreign Worker Plan (TFWP), which is up 27% from the 30,310 TFWP workers in 2021.

Temporary Foreign Workers: A Key Component of Quebec’s Economic Growth

According to Quebec Labour Minister Jean Boulet, the number of temporary foreign workers in the province has been increasing every year, especially since Ottawa granted Quebec more flexibility in recent negotiations.

Boulet also stated that this workforce is becoming more involved in all sectors of Quebec’s economy.

However, as immigration levels continue to rise, Quebec Premier François Legault has expressed concerns about the future of the French language in the francophone province.

During the last provincial election, Legault emphasized the need to hold the line on immigration.

In his inaugural address to open the latest session of the legislature, he announced plans to require that all economic immigrants to the province be francophone by 2026.

In her first immigration plan, the Plan d’immigration du Québec 2023, Quebec Immigration Minister Nadine Girault Fréchette aimed to limit immigration to between 49,500 and 52,500 new permanent residents, citing the importance of providing adequate settlement services and integrating all immigrants. Fréchette highlighted that immigrants bring with them a wide range of talents to Quebec, and that support must be in place to help them integrate.

Fréchette further stated that the immigration plan contains important measures to help immigrants learn French and integrate into Quebec society.

She stressed that the Quebec government wants immigration to contribute to the province’s economy in all regions and to maintain the vitality of the French language.

Overall, Quebec is experiencing an influx of immigrants, both permanent and temporary, and this has raised concerns about the integration of newcomers into Quebec society, particularly in relation to the French language.

The Quebec government is taking steps to address these concerns by implementing measures to promote French language proficiency and support the integration of immigrants into Quebec society.

---