Name: Quebec slashes immigration pathways, forcing thousands to leave
Uploaded: 2025-11-20T20:32:13.408Z
Duration: 1 min 58 s
Description: Quebec has abruptly scrapped its key immigration route, the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ), while sharply lowering future immigration thresholds—meaning thousands of temporary residents, including many French families, must now leave the province.

Quebec has abruptly scrapped its key immigration route, the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ), while sharply lowering future immigration thresholds—meaning thousands of temporary residents, including many French families, must now leave the province.

Quebec

The Quebec government has cancelled the Quebec experience program, a primary pathway for many immigrants seeking permanent residency, without prior notice. Officials state the decision was made to alleviate pressure on public services such as schools and hospitals, and the change is expected to result in 60,000 fewer permanent residents between 2026 and 2029.

Thousands of immigrants already settled in Quebec are now calling for a grandfather clause to allow them to continue their immigration process, with support from opposition parties. The government has introduced a new program to direct immigration toward rural areas, while at the federal level, a significant reduction in temporary immigration to Canada is also planned.

Quebec slashes immigration pathways, forcing thousands to leave

Three years ago, Géraldine and her family left France to start a new life in Quebec. Here we are arriving in Paris and the next day we move to Quebec with 15 suitcases. But the province has just cancelled with no warning the Quebec experience program, the pathway their immigration plan depended on. They promised us that by studying here we would then qualify for a work permit. And with that work experience we could then apply for permanent residency. That's why we came to Quebec, because we thought we had a future here. Quebec's government says the reform is needed because temporary immigrants are putting too much pressure on the province's public services. The presence of so many people in our territory isn't the reason for every problem in Quebec. But it does put unreasonable pressure on our schools, and on our hospitals, and on our public services. Under these changes, Quebec expects 60,000 fewer permanent residents than originally forecast between 2026 and 2029. As a result, thousands of immigrants already settled here are calling for a grandfather clause that would allow them to stay and continue their immigration process. They're backed by opposition parties in the National Assembly. They're abandoning thousands of people who came here, who sometimes came at the invitation of the government of Quebec. We need these workers and we need to show respect to the people who chose to come here. A new program called the PSTQ aims to steer immigration toward rural regions and smaller cities across the province. At the federal level, Prime Minister Mark Carney has pledged to cut temporary immigration to Canada by more than 40% starting this year.

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