Quebec could admit up to 44,500 new permanent residents in 2020
Quebec could admit 44,500 new permanent residents and issue 24,700 new selection certificates in 2020, the province’s immigration ministry announced Wednesday.
The majority of new admissions to Quebec in 2020 — 59 percent — are expected to come through the province’s economic immigration programs, including the Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP).
The province’s immigration ministry said its targets for 2020 respond to Quebec’s labor needs “while respecting its capacities for welcoming and integrating” the new arrivals.
The levels, which provide for an increase of 2,700 over its maximum of 41,800 newcomers this year, reflect the governing Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ)’s promise to progressively increase immigration levels to the province after reducing them by around 20 percent.
The CAQ said the reduction was necessary to ensure new arrivals are properly integrated into Quebec’s majority French-speaking society and its labor market.
Quebec’s Immigration Minister, Simon Jolin-Barrette, said Wednesday that the province’s immigration level could return to above 50,000 — the level it was at when the CAQ won office in 2018 — by 2022.
Maximum 22,000 skilled worker admissions in 2020
Quebec has set a range of between 25,500 and 26,300 new admissions for its economic immigration programs, including a maximum of 22,000 skilled workers.
The province has a maximum of 3,600 admissions for its business immigration programs, which include the Quebec Entrepreneur Program and the Quebec Self-Employed Worker Program.
A maximum of 700 admissions is also set for “other economic categories” such as caregivers and others.
The remaining 18,200 new permanent residents are slated to arrive through family sponsorship, refugee and other immigration programs.
