It\u2019s an election already being written off as \u201cboring\u201d by political pundits but the choice of which political party will get to form the next government in Quebec after the polls close on Oct. 3 could have profound implications on future immigration to La Belle Province.<\/p>\n
Premier Fran\u00e7ois Legault has made himself clear. He\u2019s dead set against increasing immigration to Quebec to 58,000 new permanent residents per year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWith 50,000 immigrants per year, we are already one of the few places in the world that receives proportionately as many immigrants,\u201d the premier reportedly said in French in early June.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Read More<\/b><\/p>\n Quebec Invites 58 Canada Immigration Candidates With Jobs Offers In Regions<\/a> Early polls gave Legault\u2019s ruling Coalition Avenir Qu\u00e9bec (CAQ) a wide lead, putting it on track to not only win this election but to do so with an even more significant majority than in 2018.<\/p>\n Poll aggregator Qc125.com (Canada338) estimated on the day the writ was dropped the CAQ would win between 82 and 106 seats and the Liberal Party of Quebec only between 10 and 24.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Qu\u00e9bec Solidaire was then thought to only be likely to get between five and 14 seats, the Parti Qu\u00e9b\u00e9cois six or less and the Conservative Party of Quebec four or less.<\/p>\n Unless the Liberals pull off a major reversal during the campaign, immigration policy in Quebec will likely continue to be set by the CAQ.<\/p>\n Read More<\/b><\/p>\n Certain Immigrants To Get Drivers\u2019 Licenses Faster On Prince Edward Island<\/a> But the Liberals are much more bullish on immigration than the ruling party.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In mid-May, provincial Liberal leader Dominique Anglade called for a massive increase in immigration to Quebec, up to 70,000 new permanent residents annually.<\/p>\n \u201cThis year, Quebec will on the whole welcome that many,\u201d she reportedly said in French. \u201cThis is the policy of Fran\u00e7ois Legault, 70,000 people. If we have the capacity to welcome 70,000 immigrants, I think that we should base ourselves on that figure and we are discussing that in all the regions of Quebec.\u201d<\/p>\n In May, Quebec announced it was going to welcome up to 71,275 new permanent residents this year, up more than 41.7 per cent from the 50,285 last year, in a bid to make up for immigrants who were unable to come to the province at the height of the pandemic.<\/p>\n Provincial Immigration\u00a0Minister Jean Boulet, though, downplayed the boost in\u00a0immigration\u00a0this year in an interview with the French-language Radio-Canada television network earlier this year.<\/p>\n He was then \u2013 and still is – under pressure from business and industry groups to vastly increase\u00a0Quebec\u2019s\u00a0immigration\u00a0targets but Boulet explained away this year\u2019s increase in\u00a0immigration\u00a0as nothing more than the province catching up for losses during the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n \u201cThe limit on the number of immigrants allowed, based on the multi-year plan, limits new permanent residents to\u00a0Quebec\u00a0to 52,500 per year,\u201d said Boulet in French.<\/p>\n In 2020, though,\u00a0Quebec\u00a0was unable to welcome the 44,000 new permanent residents which it was then allowed under that multi-year plan. Instead, only 25,225 new permanent residents came to\u00a0Quebec\u00a0that year.<\/p>\n The 18,775 shortfalls in permanent residents between those expected under the 2020\u00a0immigration\u00a0target\u00a0and those who actually came that year are now being added to\u00a0Quebec\u2019s allotment for this year.<\/p>\n That\u2019s pushing\u00a0immigration\u00a0to\u00a0Quebec\u00a0to a record high because the previous shortfall is now being added to the 52,500 allotments for this year under the multi-year plan.<\/p>\n That level of\u00a0immigration\u00a0to\u00a0Quebec\u00a0\u2013 if it materializes \u2013 will mean 20,990 more new permanent residents to the province this year than in 2021.<\/p>\n
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\nSaskatchewan Issues 629 Canada Immigration Invitations In New PNP Draw<\/a>
\nManitoba Invites 353 Canada Immigration Candidates In New PNP Draw<\/a><\/p>\n
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\nCanada Set To Open Express Entry To Truckers<\/a>
\nQuebec Invites 58 Canada Immigration Candidates With Jobs Offers In Regions<\/a><\/p>\n
\nQuebec Wants To Welcome Up To 71,275 New Permanent Residents This Year Only<\/h3>\n
Business Groups Welcoming Temporary Boost In Quebec Immigration This Year<\/h3>\n