Maple News reports that Canada’s federal Immigration Minister, Marc Miller, has announced a significant move to increase the number of permanent residence applications processed for family reunification in Quebec, effectively overriding the province’s self-imposed immigration limits.
In a letter addressed to Quebec’s Immigration Minister Christine Fréchette, obtained by media sources, Miller stated he had instructed his department to process approximately 20,500 applications from individuals who hold a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ). This number substantially exceeds Quebec’s current annual target of around 10,000 family reunification immigrants.
The move comes after months of negotiations between the federal and Quebec governments over immigration levels in the province. Miller criticized Quebec’s limits as “artificially low” and emphasized that families in Quebec are facing significantly longer processing times—up to 26 months—compared to the federal standard of 12 months.
While Miller expresses his intention to meet federal service timelines and reduce backlogs, Quebec views the intervention as an infringement on its constitutional jurisdiction over immigration. Minister Fréchette’s office responded firmly, stating that the federal government’s decision “does not respect the will of the Quebec nation” and could undermine the province’s permanent immigration thresholds.
Quebec’s unique immigration authority stems from the 1991 Quebec-Canada Accord, which gives the province exclusive rights to select and integrate immigrants—particularly to protect its francophone culture. This federal intervention marks a rare and notable departure from nearly three decades of Quebec-led immigration processes.
Despite the disagreement, Quebec’s immigration ministry noted it had already begun internal discussions about expanding family reunification and had recently consulted with advocacy groups on the matter. The province indicated a willingness to explore solutions that align with both humanitarian goals and its language and cultural priorities.
This development highlights growing tensions between national immigration strategies and provincial autonomy, especially in a province as culturally distinct and legislatively empowered as Quebec.
As the federal government seeks to balance nationwide immigrant integration with regional sensitivities, the outcome of this policy clash may set a precedent for federal-provincial relations in Canadian immigration.