Maple News reports that the Quebec government has announced the launch of three new permanent immigration pilot programs, designed to attract and retain skilled workers in sectors experiencing labor shortages. The measures were officially published in the Gazette officielle du Québec on October 28, 2020, with a 45-day consultation period preceding their implementation, expected in early 2021.
These pilot programs focus on three strategic areas: long-term care (orderlies and patient attendants), the artificial intelligence and IT sector, and food processing. Each of the three pilots allows the selection of up to 550 principal applicants per year, with accompanying family members also eligible for Quebec Selection Certificates.
The move represents a significant shift in Quebec’s immigration strategy, which aims to align immigration pathways more closely with the province’s economic and labor market needs. According to the provincial government, these programs are crafted to ensure Quebec can tap into talent that directly supports its economy and lifts pressure off industries facing workforce shortages.
The first pilot focuses on healthcare aides and patient attendants, a group critical to Quebec’s aging population. Selected applicants will be eligible for permanent residency and may include their immediate family members in their applications.
The second pilot, targeting workers in artificial intelligence, IT, and visual effects industries, is a five-year initiative. The annual quota of 550 candidates will be evenly divided, with half of the spots allocated specifically to AI professionals—highlighting Quebec’s aim to become a global hub for advanced digital industries. The program is also designed to retain temporary foreign workers already in Quebec but looking for a path to permanence.
The third pilot provides foreign workers in the food processing industry a route to permanent immigration. This five-year initiative also includes the applicant’s family and is intended to stabilize Quebec’s agri-food supply chain by securing a long-term workforce.
In addition to the new pilot programs, Quebec is modifying application intake procedures for the Collective Sponsorship Program for refugees and updating regulations for its Entrepreneur and Self-Employed immigration streams. These revisions aim to increase transparency and efficiency across the province’s immigration landscape.
These changes reflect a broader trend within Canada, where provinces are taking more active roles in shaping their immigration strategies to meet local demand. Quebec, with its unique legal and linguistic status, has autonomy over how it selects its immigrants and is leveraging this control to bolster its economic resilience.
Maple News will continue to monitor the rollout of these new pilots and changes to ensure applicants and employers remain informed throughout the process.