As Quebec grapples with labour shortages, the new premier, Christine Fréchette, faces mounting pressure to fulfill her promise of reinstating a fast-track immigration program. This comes in the wake of rising concerns from families affected by significant delays in processing applications.
The context began when the CAQ government abolished the Programme de l’expérience québécoise (PEQ) as part of an effort to control immigration volumes. This decision left many potential immigrants in limbo and has sparked criticism from various quarters.
In her bid for leadership, Fréchette vowed to bring back the PEQ, which was designed as a merit-based pathway for French-speaking graduates and workers in Quebec. Critics argue that without swift action, many will be forced to consider relocating to other provinces like Halifax or Calgary—options they would rather avoid.
Recent developments include the In-Canada Workers Initiative, aiming to fast-track permanent residency for up to 33,000 temporary foreign workers by 2026 and 2027. By February 28, 2026, approximately 3,600 workers had already secured permanent residency through this initiative.
This initiative specifically targets workers within certain streams, including the Provincial Nominee Program and the Atlantic Immigration Program. However, it does not create new pathways but rather accelerates existing applications—a fact that has drawn skepticism from critics.
The federal government also aims to reduce the temporary resident population below 5% of Canada’s total population by 2027. Many are left wondering how these overarching goals align with provincial needs.
The urgency is palpable. As Jessica Prats noted, “We must not forget that there are elections in October.” With time ticking away, families like those of Tiffany Corti express their frustrations: “I don’t want promises; I want action.”
The timeline for reopening the PEQ remains unclear. Officials have yet to disclose how they will communicate the fast-tracking process to applicants. This uncertainty weighs heavily on those hoping for a smoother transition into Quebec’s workforce.
Nadir Belaid assures concerned families: “I want to make sure people know that we’re not giving up — we will see this through to the end.” But with so many factors at play, will this resolve before the upcoming elections?
