On This Page You Will Find
- What the Parti Québécois election victory means for Quebec immigration
- Proposed cuts to permanent and temporary immigration
- How the changes could affect the Quebec Skilled Worker Selection Program
- What happens next to the Quebec Experience Program
- How international students and temporary foreign workers could be affected
- Which immigration rules remain unchanged after the election
- Frequently asked questions about Quebec immigration policy
The Parti Québécois has won Quebec’s provincial election, putting major cuts to permanent and temporary immigration at the centre of the province’s political agenda.
The party, led by Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, secured 59 of the 127 seats in Quebec’s National Assembly in the October 5 election. It will form a minority government, five seats short of the 64 required for a majority.
The victory could bring significant changes to Quebec immigration policy, including a reduction in permanent resident admissions, tighter restrictions on temporary residents and a potential suspension of economic immigration selection from outside the province.
Under its election platform, the Parti Québécois wants to reduce annual permanent immigration to approximately 35,000 people, compared with the existing target of 45,000. That would represent a reduction of about 22 per cent.
The party also proposes cutting Quebec’s temporary resident population by at least half over four years.
However, these proposals remain political commitments. The election result does not automatically change existing immigration programs, eligibility requirements or application procedures.
The new government’s ability to implement its proposals will also depend on support from other parties in the National Assembly and, in some cases, cooperation with the federal government.
Parti Québécois Plans To Cut Permanent Immigration To 35,000
One of the most significant proposals in the Parti Québécois immigration platform is a reduction in annual permanent resident admissions to approximately 35,000.
The previous Quebec government established a target of 45,000 permanent resident admissions for 2026 as part of its immigration planning for 2026 to 2029.
Reducing that figure to 35,000 would mean approximately 10,000 fewer permanent resident admissions annually.
The proposal would affect the overall number of immigrants Quebec welcomes, although the new government has yet to announce how it would distribute admissions across economic immigration, family reunification and humanitarian categories.
The Parti Québécois has also committed to processing family reunification applications for spouses and children more quickly.
The proposed reduction reflects the party’s position that Quebec must bring immigration levels into line with its housing supply, public services and ability to integrate newcomers into French-speaking society.
St-Pierre Plamondon has argued that reducing immigration would ease pressure on public infrastructure while strengthening the position of French as Quebec’s common language.
The province’s previous government had already adopted a more restrictive immigration approach, including lower permanent immigration targets and tighter management of temporary immigration.
The election result could accelerate that approach and introduce further restrictions.
Quebec Could Suspend Economic Immigration Selection From Overseas
Perhaps the most consequential proposal for prospective immigrants is the Parti Québécois commitment to impose a moratorium on selecting new economic immigrants from outside Quebec.
Under the proposal, the province would temporarily prioritize people already living in Quebec as temporary foreign workers or international students.
The moratorium would remain in place until Quebec achieves its temporary-resident reduction target.
This could significantly change the prospects of overseas applicants seeking permanent residence through the province’s economic immigration programs.
One program that could be affected is the Skilled Worker Selection Program, known by its French acronym PSTQ.
The PSTQ allows Quebec to select skilled workers who meet provincial criteria, including requirements relating to French-language ability, education, employment and other selection factors.
Candidates generally enter the selection process through the Arrima system, where Quebec can invite eligible applicants to apply for permanent selection.
If the incoming government implements its proposed moratorium, applicants living outside Quebec could face additional restrictions or fewer opportunities to receive invitations.
However, the party has not yet published detailed implementation rules explaining how the moratorium would affect different categories of PSTQ candidates.
It has also not clarified whether any exemptions would apply to particular occupations, industries or applicants already participating in the selection process.
For now, overseas candidates should continue to follow the existing rules while monitoring official announcements from Quebec’s immigration ministry.
What Happens To The Quebec Experience Program?
The election also raises questions about the future of the Quebec Experience Program, or PEQ.
The outgoing government temporarily reopened the program on July 2, 2026, after previously closing it.
The PEQ provides a pathway to permanent selection for eligible international graduates and temporary foreign workers with experience in Quebec.
Under the arrangements introduced by the previous government, the program is scheduled to operate until July 2, 2028.
Its first application period opened on July 2 and is scheduled to close on October 31, 2026.
This initial application period is restricted to applicants who met specific education or work experience requirements by November 19, 2025.
The government also indicated that it could announce additional application periods before the program’s scheduled closure in 2028.
The Parti Québécois victory introduces uncertainty over those future arrangements.
Although the party’s immigration platform emphasizes selecting permanent residents from the existing population of temporary workers and international students, it has not clarified whether it intends to maintain the PEQ in its current form.
Its approach could therefore align with the PEQ’s emphasis on candidates already established in Quebec, but that does not guarantee the program will remain unchanged.
The next important date is October 31, when the current application period is scheduled to close.
Eligible applicants should not assume the government will extend that deadline or introduce additional application periods.
Until Quebec announces changes, the existing PEQ eligibility requirements and application procedures remain in place.
Applicants can consult our Quebec Experience Program page for current requirements.
Quebec Wants To Halve Its Temporary Resident Population
The Parti Québécois has also proposed a substantial reduction in the number of temporary residents living in Quebec.
Its immigration plan calls for reducing the province’s non-permanent resident population by at least half over a four-year mandate.
The party wants to bring that population down to approximately 250,000 to 300,000 people.
This represents a potentially major change for Quebec’s employers, international students and temporary foreign workers.
However, an important distinction exists between the proposed population target and the temporary immigration targets established by the previous government.
The Parti Québécois proposal concerns the total number of non-permanent residents living in Quebec at a particular time.
By contrast, the previous government’s annual temporary immigration targets measure the number of people admitted through specified programs during a year.
These figures measure different things and cannot be compared directly.
The proposed reduction would also depend partly on federal decisions because Ottawa controls important aspects of temporary immigration, including the issuance of work permits and study permits.
Quebec already exercises significant influence over the admission of temporary foreign workers and international students through its consent and selection responsibilities.
However, the province does not control every federal temporary immigration pathway.
The new government would therefore need to work with Ottawa to achieve some of its proposed reductions.
New Targets For Foreign Workers And International Students
The Parti Québécois platform also proposes substantial changes to temporary immigration programs.
The party wants to establish a target of approximately 40,000 workers under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and approximately 50,000 international students.
It has not yet provided a complete implementation timetable explaining how these targets would affect existing permit holders, future applicants or individual institutions and employers.
For temporary foreign workers, the party proposes tightening selection requirements while giving greater consideration to occupations facing labour shortages.
It also recognizes the agriculture sector’s dependence on temporary foreign labour.
Another proposal would replace employer-specific work permits with regional and sector-based permits.
Such a change could potentially give some workers greater mobility between employers within designated areas or industries.
However, changes to federal work permit conditions would require Ottawa’s involvement.
For international students, the party wants to strengthen French-language requirements and review the way Quebec funds universities enrolling students from overseas.
These proposals could affect the province’s ability to attract international students, particularly those seeking English-language education.
The precise consequences will depend on the rules the new government introduces and whether the federal government agrees to changes requiring its cooperation.
Stronger French-Language Requirements Expected
French-language proficiency is another central element of the Parti Québécois immigration platform.
The party wants to raise French-language requirements for immigration candidates and prioritize applicants who already demonstrate intermediate proficiency when entering Quebec.
It also wants to give preference to applicants with intermediate to advanced French-language abilities.
This reflects the party’s wider commitment to protecting French and ensuring newcomers can participate in Quebec’s predominantly French-speaking society.
French proficiency already plays an important role in Quebec’s economic immigration selection system.
The previous government introduced measures designed to increase the proportion of immigrants who speak French and to encourage temporary residents to improve their language skills.
The Parti Québécois proposals would build on those policies.
However, applicants should distinguish between the party’s proposed standards and the language requirements currently established under individual immigration programs.
No new French-language test thresholds or universal eligibility requirements have been confirmed as a direct result of the election.
What The Election Means For Quebec Immigration Applicants
The election creates uncertainty for several groups of prospective immigrants, but the immediate consequences differ depending on where applicants live and which program they intend to use.
| Applicant category | Potential impact |
|---|---|
| Overseas skilled workers | Could face restrictions on new economic immigration selection |
| Skilled workers already in Quebec | Could benefit from greater priority in provincial selection |
| PEQ applicants | Existing application period remains scheduled to close October 31 |
| International students | Could face lower admission targets and stronger French-language requirements |
| Temporary foreign workers | Could face tighter selection rules and changes to work permit arrangements |
| Family sponsorship applicants | Party proposes faster processing for spouses and children |
These are potential consequences of the election platform rather than confirmed regulatory changes.
People who have already submitted immigration applications should continue to follow the instructions and deadlines that apply to their cases.
Those planning to apply should avoid assuming that a campaign proposal has taken effect until Quebec publishes an official policy announcement or regulatory change.
Quebec Immigration Changes Will Require Political Negotiations
The Parti Québécois victory does not give the party unrestricted authority to implement its immigration agenda.
With 59 seats, it falls five short of a majority in the 127-seat National Assembly.
The government will need support from opposition lawmakers to pass legislation requiring a majority vote.
Some immigration changes may be possible through existing ministerial or regulatory powers, while others could require amendments to provincial legislation.
The division of immigration responsibilities between Quebec and Ottawa creates another layer of complexity.
Under the Canada–Quebec Accord, Quebec has extensive authority over the selection of economic immigrants destined for the province.
However, the federal government retains responsibility for granting permanent resident status and applying immigration requirements relating to areas such as admissibility.
Ottawa also controls work permits, study permits and other elements of the temporary immigration system, although Quebec has a role in several related processes.
As a result, the province cannot independently implement every element of the Parti Québécois platform.
The new government will need to establish which measures it can introduce directly and which require negotiations with the federal government.
What Happens Next For Quebec Immigration?
The next stage will be the formation of the new government and the announcement of its immigration priorities.
The Parti Québécois will have to decide how quickly to pursue its proposed reductions and whether to introduce changes to existing immigration programs.
Several developments will be particularly important for prospective immigrants.
These include the future of the PEQ after its October 31 application deadline, any changes to PSTQ selection invitations and the introduction of a revised permanent immigration admissions plan.
The government will also need to explain how it intends to reduce the temporary resident population and whether it will seek additional powers from Ottawa.
For applicants already living in Quebec, the party’s commitment to prioritizing existing temporary residents could eventually create new opportunities for permanent selection.
For prospective immigrants living overseas, the proposed moratorium on economic immigration selection presents a potentially more significant obstacle.
However, the outcome will depend on the details of any measures the new government formally introduces.
For now, the October 5 election represents a major change in Quebec’s political direction, but not an immediate overhaul of its immigration system.
Prospective immigrants should continue to rely on official Quebec and federal immigration instructions until the new government confirms its policies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Quebec reduce permanent immigration to 35,000 people?
The Parti Québécois has proposed reducing annual permanent resident admissions to approximately 35,000, compared with the existing target of 45,000. This would represent a reduction of about 22 per cent. However, the proposal remains a campaign commitment. The new government must formally establish revised immigration targets before they take effect.
Will Quebec stop accepting skilled worker applications from overseas?
The Parti Québécois wants to introduce a moratorium on selecting economic immigrants from outside Quebec until the province meets its temporary-resident reduction target. However, no such moratorium has taken effect following the election. Overseas applicants should continue following existing PSTQ requirements and monitor official announcements for any changes.
Is the Quebec Experience Program closing after the election?
The Quebec Experience Program remains scheduled to operate until July 2, 2028, under arrangements introduced by the previous government. Its current application period closes on October 31, 2026. The Parti Québécois has not confirmed whether it will maintain, amend or replace those arrangements. Eligible applicants should follow existing deadlines.
What will happen to temporary foreign workers and international students in Quebec?
The Parti Québécois wants to reduce Quebec’s temporary resident population by at least half over four years. It also proposes targets of approximately 40,000 temporary foreign workers and 50,000 international students. However, the government has not announced implementation rules or confirmed how the proposals would affect people already holding valid permits.
Can Quebec change its immigration rules without federal approval?
Quebec has extensive authority over economic immigrant selection under the Canada–Quebec Accord. However, Ottawa retains responsibility for granting permanent residence and issuing work and study permits. Some proposed changes could therefore require federal cooperation. The Parti Québécois must also negotiate with opposition parties because it won a minority government.