According to Quebec’s new immigration strategy, which was unveiled on October 28, the province could admit up to 52,500 new permanent residents by 2022.

In 2022, the province’s economic immigration programs, such as the Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP) and the Québec Experience Program, will account for the majority of new admissions (PEQ).

The plan maintains the aims set during the public consultation held in the summer of 2019 as part of the Quebec Immigration Planning for the period 2020-2022.

It calls for the admission of 49,500 to 52,500 immigrants across all categories in 2022, as well as an additional 18,000 admissions to meet the federal government’s 2020 admission levels, which were not met owing to the COVID-19 epidemic.

The economic category, with a maximum aim of 33,900 entrants, constitutes the highest proportion of newcomers. The province aims to welcome up to 28,800 skilled employees and 4,300 business immigrants in this category, which includes investors, entrepreneurs, and self-employed individuals.

Family reunification, refugees, and other immigration programs are expected to bring in the remaining 18,600 new permanent residents.

The Quebec Immigration Department presents an annual plan for immigration numbers. It shows how many new permanent residents the province plans to welcome in the future year, as well as the categories into which they will be accepted.

Quebec is responsible for setting its own admission targets following a 1991 immigration agreement with Canada. Quebec is Canada’s only province with such an agreement with the federal government.

In comparison to the previous two years, the latest numbers show an increase in Quebec’s immigration targets.

This rise is in line with the province’s current ruling party, the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ), which promised in 2019 to progressively raise the number of newcomers after lowering admittance targets. The CAQ implemented a 20% reduction that year in order to better the selection and francization of newcomers to Quebec.

When the CAQ decreased admissions goals, it did so on the grounds that Quebec is already having trouble integrating and franchising newcomers. Since then, the Quebec government has placed a strong emphasis on the integration and francization of new permanent residents, investing much in this area.

The Quebec government has lately implemented a number of key new measures to expedite the admission of foreign employees in the province, in addition to expanding immigration targets. Increasing the percentage of temporary foreign employees that businesses in specific areas of the economy can hire from 10% to 20% of their staff is one of them.