Premier François Legault has declared that no exceptions will be made for permanent residency applications submitted through Quebec’s soon-to-be discontinued Quebec Experience Program (PEQ). Last week, the Quebec government announced the termination of the PEQ, a key pathway to permanent residency, effective November 19. This move leaves the Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) as the sole option for individuals seeking to settle in the province for economic purposes.
While applications received under the PEQ before its suspension will still be processed, they will now be assessed based on the PSTQ criteria. Legault, speaking in a media gathering, emphasized the government’s aim to reduce the number of non-permanent residents in Montreal and Laval due to an excessive presence of temporary immigrants.
Protests against the elimination of the PEQ, organized by the immigration advocacy group Le Québec c’est nous aussi (LQCNA), occurred outside the Quebec Immigration Ministry’s office in downtown Montreal and in front of the National Assembly in Quebec City. The PEQ expedites permanent residency applications for individuals already residing in Quebec, comprising streams for both temporary foreign workers and Quebec graduates.
Quebec Immigration Minister Jean-François Roberge cautioned that individuals relying on the PEQ for permanent resident status may not automatically qualify under the PSTQ, as it requires a thorough evaluation. Under the PSTQ, the government will prioritize Quebec graduates with work experience and foreign workers already established in the province.
Applicants under the PSTQ will be evaluated based on their education, French-language proficiency, and work experience using a 1200-point scale. A higher score increases the likelihood of immigrants being invited to apply for permanent resident status.
Claire Launay, president of LQCNA, criticized the government’s decision to end the PEQ and halt work permits in Montreal and Laval, suggesting that it sends a message to workers to leave. The Quebec government recently reduced its annual immigration targets to 45,000 new permanent residents, a significant decrease from the current year’s expected intake of 61,000.
Service worker Ahmed Dine Dine, speaking at a protest in Quebec City, expressed concern over the termination of the PEQ jeopardizing his and his wife’s future. As French-speaking Moroccans, they believed their language skills would aid in their integration into Quebec society. Dine Dine emphasized that PEQ applicants are not seeking handouts but rather recognition for their contributions and adherence to Quebec’s regulations.