Maple News reports that the Government of Quebec has announced the details of three new permanent immigration pilot programs set to launch in early 2021. These initiatives aim to address critical labour shortages in the province by attracting and retaining foreign talent with specialized skills.
According to a draft regulation published in the October 28, 2020 edition of the Gazette officielle du Québec, public consultation on the three pilot programs will be open for 45 days before formal implementation. The programs target specific workforce gaps in healthcare, technology, and food production—sectors deemed vital to Quebec’s economic recovery and long-term stability.
The first of these is the Pilot Program for Orderlies, which will provide a pathway to permanent residency for up to 550 qualified applicant caregivers per year. This includes workers such as nurses’ aides and beneficiary attendants, who play a central role in the province’s healthcare system. Family members of selected applicants will also be eligible for Quebec Selection Certificates.
The second initiative, the Pilot Program for Workers in Secondary Food Processing, will offer permanent residency to up to 550 temporary foreign workers each year who are employed in Quebec’s food processing industries. This five-year program acknowledges the essential duties these workers have fulfilled during the pandemic and beyond.
The third pilot targets high-tech sectors: artificial intelligence (AI), information technologies (IT), and visual effects. Like the others, it will run for five years and each year will accept up to 550 applicants and their accompanying family members. Half of these slots will be reserved for professionals working in AI, with the remaining distributed between IT and visual effects. This program is designed to both attract international talent and retain those already contributing to Quebec’s innovation ecosystem on temporary permits.
In addition to the pilot programs, Quebec is introducing significant improvements to the collective sponsorship program under the Program for Refugees Abroad. Simultaneously, updated regulations are being proposed for the Self-Employed Worker Program and the Entrepreneur Program, aimed at promoting more efficient processing and better alignment with market needs.
Through these new pathways, Quebec is reinforcing its commitment to targeted immigration policies, focusing on sectors where demand is highest. By tailoring immigration streams to long-term labour shortages, the province hopes not only to stabilize its workforce but also to maintain its competitiveness in emerging industries.
The pilot programs represent a broader shift in provincial immigration strategy—one that increasingly prioritizes economic contribution, regional integration, and long-term settlement success. Maple News will continue to monitor developments as the consultation period concludes and the new programs officially take effect.