Quebec will welcome up to 70,500 new immigrants in 2022, according to the new Immigration Levels Plan tabled in the National Assembly on Thursday.
The figures, announced by Deputy Immigration Minister Jean Boulet, include 52,500 newcomers under the previously announced plan, and 18,000 intended to make up the deficit of newcomers registered during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The rebalancing figure is high because Quebec immigration is forecasting that it will fail to reach its 2021 immigration target.
Last year, the Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration (MIFI) planned to welcome up to 54,500 newcomers in 2021, including 7,000 to help make up the shortfall seen in 2020, at the height of the pandemic.
But figures announced on Thursday show Quebec will only welcome a maximum of 47,100 newcomers this year, a number that could drop as low as 43,100.
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Quebec’s 2021 Immigration Levels Plan
|
Results |
Plan 2021 |
Forecast 2021 |
Plan 2022 |
|||||||
|
2019 |
2020 |
Rebalancing |
MIN |
MAX |
MIN |
MAX |
Rebalancing |
MIN |
MAX |
|
|
Economic |
23,129 |
12,772 |
4,600 |
27,500 |
29,300 |
25,300 |
27,800 |
12,700 |
32,000 |
33,900 |
|
– Skilled Workers |
19,098 |
11,477 |
3,500 |
22,900 |
24,200 |
23,500 |
25,600 |
12,700 |
27,400 |
28,800 |
|
– Business |
3,387 |
1,106 |
1,000 |
4,000 |
4,300 |
1,800 |
2,100 |
0 |
4,000 |
4,300 |
|
– Other Economic |
644 |
189 |
100 |
600 |
800 |
0 |
100 |
0 |
600 |
800 |
|
Family Reunification |
9,686 |
7,792 |
1,550 |
9,700 |
10,200 |
11,000 |
11,400 |
1,000 |
10,200 |
10,600 |
|
Refugees |
7,248 |
4,184 |
850 |
6,900 |
7,500 |
5,500 |
6,300 |
1,500 |
6,900 |
7,500 |
|
Other Immigrants |
502 |
475 |
0 |
400 |
500 |
1,300 |
1,600 |
2,800 |
400 |
500 |
|
TOTAL |
40,565 |
25,223 |
7,000 |
44,500 |
47,500 |
43,100 |
47,100 |
18,000 |
49,000 |
52,500 |
“Our government is resolutely committed to ensuring that immigration contributes to a strong recovery of the Quebec economy, to the vitality of the French language and of our regions,” Boulet said.
“This responsible immigration plan, which includes the necessary catch-up to mitigate the effects of the pandemic on admissions, is accompanied by all the measures that we have put in place for the francisation and integration of immigrants.
“For immigration to help meet the current challenges of labour shortages, it is imperative that permanent residences be issued more quickly by the federal government.”
Quebec Immigration in 2022: Breakdown
Economic Category
The economic category will continue to be the dominant one for Quebec immigration, likely contributing up to 46,600 in 2022, or 66 per cent of the total (including rebalancing). Quebec is set to welcome up to 27,800 economic immigrants in 2021.
Family Reunification
Including the rebalancing, family reunification is slated to total 11,600 newcomers in 2022, or 16 per cent of the total, up slightly on the 11,400 expected to be welcomed in 2021.
Refugees
Quebec is planning to welcome up to 9,000 refugees in 2022, when the rebalancing figures are added. This amounts to 13 per cent of the total figure, and is up from 6,300 in 2021.
Other Immigrants
In the ‘other immigrants’ category, Quebec expects to welcome 3,100 newcomers in 2022, or 4 per cent of the total. It will welcome up to 1,600 in the category in 2021.
MIFI says the extra capacity in 2022 will allow an acceleration of the processing of permanent resident applications under Quebec’s Special Program for Asylum Seekers, submitted during the COVID-19 period.
It also says the backlog of applications from international students under the Quebec Expereince Program will also be cleared, “thereby favouring the economic immigration of applicants who are already in Quebec and who have good knowledge of French.”
